Taylor Fritz’s next opponent in Melbourne, Stan Wawrinka, is 40. When the 28-year-old was asked if he saw himself playing professional tennis at that age, the American replied, “not at all. I can barely imagine playing four years from now.”
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But perspectives can change. Serena Williams never saw herself playing to 40 and fellow legend Rafael Nadal didn’t think he would keep going for as long as he did.
If his body co-operated, Nadal, 39, might still be scrambling into the corners and uttering, “Vamos!”
Venus Williams continues - and the 45-year-old extended younger, hard-hitting foe Olga Danilovic to three sets in a Day 1 thriller.
Indeed, as demanding as the sprawling, never-ending tennis tour might be, the adrenaline rush from competing and adulation from large crowds are feelings difficult to duplicate when it is “game, set and match” for good.
This fortnight, though, is certain to mark the Australian Open farewells of Wawrinka and Gael Monfils.
And while the 39-year-old Monfils - who incorporated pals Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon into a video announcing that 2026 would be his final season - lost to Australia’s Dane Sweeny in the first round, Wawrinka remains in contention.
There were tears from the wildcard after he overcame Laslo Djere in the first round.
After the Swiss outlasted qualifier Arthur Gea in four-and-a-half hours on Thursday, he became the first 40-year-old man, or older, to make the third round at the Australian Open since Sydneysider Ken Rosewall in 1978.
“Knowing that it’s my last Australian Open, my last year, it's really special,” Wawrinka said. “The emotions are really completely different. It's a feeling that's tough to describe.
“But it's the reason why at 40, I'm still pushing myself, pushing the limit.”
Nearing 40, Marin Cilic hit a milestone himself in the second round.
By ousting Denis Shapovalov, the 37-year-old tied Goran Ivanisevic for the most wins in the Open era by a Croatian man (599).
“When I was working with him, he said, ‘Nobody told me I had 599. I would have played another (match),’” said Cilic, who was coached by Ivanisevic as he bulldozed his way to the 2014 US Open crown. “We were laughing.”
The elder statesmen are, of course, accompanied by Novak Djokovic. But as Wawrinka pointed out, when it comes to sustained Grand Slam success deep into the 30s, the 38-year-old has few equals in the modern game.
“Novak is in a different league,” Wawrinka acknowledged. “We never compare ourself to him. He's always there.”
Nonetheless, Wawrinka’s one-handed backhand contributed to his 2-0 record against Djokovic in Grand Slam finals as well as going five sets twice with the 24-time Grand Slam winner at the Australian Open.
Wawrinka and Cilic have been monitoring each other at AO 2026.
They cooled the dominance of the Big Three in 2014, winning their first, and in Cilic’s case, lone, major title. Wawrinka did it in Melbourne.
In recent years, the duo dealt with serious knee (Cilic) and knee and foot (Wawrinka) injuries.
Cilic tumbled outside the top 1000 in the rankings and Wawrinka slipped below 350, both having been as high as No.3.
“It’s great to see him doing great and still pushing,” said Cilic, now ranked No.70. “If it’s motivation for me to keep going for another three years? I have no idea. We’ll see. Take it year by year.”
World No.139 Wawrinka returned the sentiment, “it’s good to see him back.”
The Swiss holds a commanding 13-2 advantage in their head-to-heads - Cilic last prevailed in Melbourne in 2010 - yet the latter might have the edge when it comes to who could go deeper at AO 2026.
In his bid to reach 600 wins, Cilic meets Casper Ruud. He trails 4-0 in their clashes but none have come on the quickish courts at Melbourne Park.
His famed serve is working so far, evidenced by winning more than 80 per cent of his first-serve points against the one-handed backhands of Daniel Altmaier and Shapovalov.
Wawrinka draws a Grand Slam finalist on Saturday, too, in Fritz. They practised together at the United Cup, where Wawrinka rebounded from one three setter after another.
Bouncing back from his marathon against Gea - Wawrinka’s record 58th fifth set in the Open era - could be much more difficult.
“I know I’m not as good as I was before,” said Wawrinka, who holds a 2-1 record against Fritz. “I know I'm not physically and tennis-wise as I was before.
“That's normal. I'm getting old. But I'm still happy with what I'm doing, always trying to push my own limit, always trying to be better.
“I'm happy that I had the chance to win a match [at AO 2026].”
Like Cilic, he has done more, and both are savouring the journey.