Taylor Fritz was the man tasked with ending Stan Wawrinka’s fairytale at the Australian Open this year, and he did so with minimal fuss.
Despite dropping the second set, the American was ruthless against the legendary veteran and good value for his win.
Whilst it secured his spot in the fourth round, that was secondary when considering that this marked Stan Wawrinka’s final-ever appearance at this Melbourne major.
Taylor Fritz has now revealed what he told Wawrinka after their match.
Taylor Fritz reveals what he said to Stan Wawrinka
Speaking at his post-match press conference, the world number five was asked how he enjoyed playing in such a unique and raucous atmosphere.
He admitted: “Yeah, it is tough conditions to play in. I understand completely. I knew going in that the crowd was really going to be behind him and rallying him.
Why do you think Stan Wawrinka was never considered to be on the same level as Andy Murray?
“Yeah, it was cool to just be sitting there and see the whole thing. It’s like I knew the second the video started playing, if I look at Stan, I’m going to start getting kind of emotional. I get like that.”
He then revealed the chat they shared afterwards, adding: “I tried to not look at him too much, but it’s cool. I told him at net what he’s doing is incredible. From just being able to do it at his age, that’s impressive, but more so, like, the mentality of it, like the passion and the love for the game and just the competitiveness, because he’s someone who has absolutely nothing to prove.
“Just to be out there working that hard, just competing, I mean, down a break in the fourth, just competing his a– off, I hope that I have that much passion for tennis when I’m older. I told him it’s really impressive.”
Stan Wawrinka more than justified his Australian Open wildcard
Ahead of this year’s Australian Open, much of the debate swirled around wildcards. Particularly, whether Wawrinka should get a wildcard over Nick Kyrgios, as the Aussie battled to be fit enough to compete in the singles.
In the end, he withdrew himself from consideration, thus gifting the Swiss superstar one last dance at the Grand Slam he won back in 2014.
It’s fair to say that he has more than justified his spot in the main draw, having beaten Laslo Djere in the first round, overcome Arthur Gea in five sets in the second round, before narrowly losing to Taylor Fritz in an impressive four-set battle.
You can bring one tennis legend out of retirement. Who do you pick and why?
He gave the Australian Open crowd plenty to cheer during his week in Melbourne, with some really memorable moments that will last for a very long time.
What’s arguably even more impressive is just how competitive he remains at 40 years of age. Perhaps his retirement announcement might have been premature.
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