Wawrinka amused the crowd by mimicking Errani at the United Cup, casting doubt on his Australian Open wildcard eligibility.

Wawrinka began his 2026 campaign with a strong presence. The Swiss veteran, concluding a 20-year career this year, started his farewell season in Perth. Competing alongside his Swiss teammates at the United Cup, the squad is performing well. Yet, during the clash with Italy, Wawrinka surprisingly drew focus from the sidelines.

On January 4th, during the crucial mixed doubles match between Switzerland and Italy at the 2026 United Cup, Wawrinka caught fans’ eyes. Throughout the match, Errani repeatedly used underhand serves, celebrating points with exaggerated gestures and frequently locking eyes with the Swiss team. Watching from the sidelines, Wawrinka appeared to be intently observing her.

At one moment, the camera caught Wawrinka mimicking the Italian player’s facial expression while serving. This gesture quickly went viral online, sparking widespread discussion among fans and media alike, with even commentators unable to resist mentioning it.

So far, Wawrinka seems to be enjoying his time at the United Cup in Perth. Although his off-court antics have stolen some spotlight, the Swiss team’s performance on the court has also been highly praised.

On Sunday, Bencic set the tone for Switzerland in Perth, shining brightly at the United Cup and leading the team into the quarterfinals. The 28-year-old displayed experience and composure in a high-pressure battle against Italy, delivering an almost flawless performance.

She first secured a crucial point for Switzerland by defeating world No. 3 Paolini in singles, taking control at a critical moment. Later that day, the match extended into a mixed doubles decider, where she stepped back onto the court.

Earlier, Kobori had narrowly beaten Wawrinka in a gripping final set tiebreak, leveling the overall score. Then, Bencic paired with Jakub Paul for the mixed doubles, ultimately defeating the three-time Grand Slam champions Errani and Vavassori 7-5, 4-6, 10-7, helping Switzerland finish top of Group C with a perfect 2-0 record in the round robin.

This marked a strong start to Wawrinka’s 2026. The veteran also serves as both player and captain in his final tennis season. He has already spent six hours on court this week, proving his fighting spirit remains strong.

However, with the Australian Open approaching, a practical question arises: can he maintain this energy through to Melbourne? At least for now, it remains uncertain whether he will even appear at the Australian Open.

Will Wawrinka receive an Australian Open wildcard? Last year, he entered the tournament with a wildcard but was eliminated in the first round for the third consecutive year. The 40-year-old Swiss won the Australian Open title in 2014 and recently confirmed that 2026 will be his final professional season, ending a 24-year tennis journey.

Now ranked 157th in the world, he cannot qualify for Grand Slam main draws by ranking alone and must rely on wildcards again, highlighting the difficulty of his ongoing persistence. When asked at the United Cup about his chances of receiving an Australian Open wildcard, Wawrinka gave a candid response.

“Honestly, I don’t know. I’m taking it week by week,” Wawrinka said on Sunday. “When I get good news, like being able to play here or getting a wildcard for Auckland, I’m very happy. Of course, I’m pleased to get a wildcard; if not, that’s okay, I’ll just move on to the next tournament.”

The Australian Open starts on January 18th, and the organizers have yet to announce the full list of wildcards. Earlier this week, 45-year-old Venus Williams received a wildcard, becoming the oldest female player to compete in the Australian Open main draw. Will Wawrinka receive a similar wildcard?(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)