Stan Wawrinka began his 2026 farewell tour with a hard-fought victory over France's Arthur Rinderknech at the United Cup. The three-time Grand Slam champion, ranked 157th, defeated the 29th-ranked Rinderknech in a match lasting over three hours. Wawrinka, who announced his retirement at the end of the year, expressed gratitude for the support and the opportunity to play in Perth for the first time. He aims to improve his ranking before concluding his 20-year ATP tour career.