Taylor Fritz has worked his way into the third round of the Australian Open, continuing to grind out results despite a tough run of injuries.
Although he has not been at full fitness, the American found a way past both Valentin Royer and Vit Kopriva to book his place in round three.
He arrived in Melbourne as the ninth seed but had not enjoyed the best start to 2026, picking up just one win from four matches for Team USA at the United Cup.
Fritz had already raised concerns about how packed this season is before play began, but there is now a more immediate issue grabbing his attention.
Taylor Fritz facing tough challenge in Stan Wawrinka’s final Australian Open run
Stan Wawrinka is also making the most of his time at the Australian Open, which marks his final appearance at the Grand Slam.
The Swiss veteran, a wildcard entry this year, first won the tournament back in 2014 and is now set to retire at the end of the season.
He booked his place in round three after an intense five-set win over Arthur Gea, coming through 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(10-3).
The crowd was fully behind Wawrinka throughout what turned into a classic match. He fed off that energy and delivered a performance worthy of his reputation.
Wawrinka’s popularity in Melbourne and his proven track record there make him more than just a sentimental favourite; he is a real threat to Fritz’s ambitions this year.
And with fans eager to see him extend this final run as long as possible, there is no shortage of motivation on his side either.
Fritz may hope that fatigue becomes a factor for Wawrinka after such a physically demanding contest against Gea. At 40 years old, recovery is not as quick as it used to be.
But even after spending over four hours on court in that second-round marathon, momentum is firmly with Wawrinka. He has little to lose and plenty of experience behind him.
A three-time Grand Slam champion knows what it takes to go deep into these tournaments – something Fritz is still searching for in his own career.
Taylor Fritz vs Stan Wawrinka: their head-to-head record before the third round
Wawrinka, now playing in his final season, almost missed out on a spot in the main draw, with the decision to award him a wildcard coming later than expected.
That choice is already looking justified. The three-time Grand Slam champion has shown early form that suggests he could be dangerous in Melbourne, even at this stage of his career.
Wawrinka had been performing well for Switzerland before arriving at the Australian Open, while Fritz was struggling for consistency with Team USA. Those form lines might carry over into their third-round match.
The pair did not cross paths at that tournament – Poland eliminated the USA before going on to defeat Switzerland – but Wawrinka’s play still stood out.
Their previous meetings also lean in Wawrinka’s favour. He leads their head-to-head 2-1, including a win at Wimbledon back in 2016 when Fritz was just breaking onto the tour.
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