MELBOURNE, Jan 24 (Reuters) - ‌Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka bowed out of his last Australian Open on Saturday, ‌the three-times major winner losing 7-6(5) 2-6 6-4 6-4 to American Taylor ‌Fritz and soaking up warm applause as a much‑loved former champion.

The 40-year-old, who made his Grand Slam breakthrough in Melbourne by winning the 2014 title before adding trophies at the French Open and the U.S. ‍Open in subsequent years, had announced that 2026 ‍would be his farewell season.