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Stan Wawrinka cracked open a can of beer with Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley in the middle of John Cain Arena after playing and losing his final match at the tournament. The 2014 champion will retire at the end of the season. Ranked down at No. 139 in the world, he received a wildcard to make his final appearance at Melbourne Park - and made the most of it.

Wawrinka beat Arthur Gea in the longest match of the tournament at four hours and 33 minutes to reach the third round, and then took a set off No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz before losing 7-6(5) 2-6 6-4 6-4 in his last Aussie Open match.

The former world No. 3 fired off one of his brilliant backhands in the final game of the match, and as he bowed out, commentator Ryan Harrison said: "That's the way that you want to go out here, leaving a place where you've won before."

The fans inside John Cain Arena were with their man until the final moment, and Fritz was more than happy to hear them getting behind Wawrinka. After ending the Swiss star's Aussie Open career, he told the crowd: "It's a really, really tough match. Obviously the environment as well. I can't blame anyone in the crowd for cheering for Stan."

Wawrinka looked emotional as he sat on his bench after the match, and he was finally invited up to address the fans who had supported him here for two decades.

"He's an amazing player, he's a tough fighter to play against, so congrats to him and his team. He was better today, no question about that," the 40-year-old first said of Fritz. "But the atmosphere was again unbelievable, so guys, thank you for always showing up."

The three-time Grand Slam champion was then shown a tribute video on the big screens before Tiley came out to present him with a parting gift and pay tribute to his glittering career. "I'm not too sure if you know this, but you are the oldest man to reach the third round since Ken Rosewall in 1978," the Australian Open boss informed Wawrinka.

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But the Swiss wildcard wasn't best pleased with that fact. "I'm not sure it's the best statistic to have, but I will take it!" he replied. Tiley continued his tribute, adding: "Thank you for the great memories. I know you're going to come back and do some with, which is not playing the game, hopefully. We love you here, Stan. Well done."

Wawrinka took the microphone again to say his goodbyes. "Normally, we talk on the court after a final. Today, it's not a final, so I'm not going to make it too long," he smiled. "First of all, Craig, thank you for the wildcard invitation. Not the first time for me. It was a lot of emotion when you called me to give me the opportunity to say goodbye to the Australian Open.

"It was my last time as a tennis player here, unfortunately. All those years, thank you to my team, my family who is always here supporting me. But I have all year to stay that! I have had so many emotions here after the last 20 years, thanks to you guys [the crowd]. I won my first Grand Slam here."

And after spending 20 years watching the Aussie fans enjoying themselves with a drink or two in the stands, Wawrinka decided to join in. "All these years, I saw you enjoying the tennis, I saw you being around, I saw you supporting us, I saw you drinking! And now I can enjoy, so if you mind, I would like to cheers a beer with Craig!"

The former champion ran to his bench to grab a couple of cans and brought them back to the middle of the court, handing Tiley one. They cheersed before cracking them open. And Wawrinka enjoyed a lap of honour around John Cain Arena before stepping off the court one final time.