Former Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka advanced to the second round at Melbourne Park as Ernests Gulbis retired at 1-3 down in the second set due to a back injury after winning the first set 6-3. Wawrinka will face the winner of the first round match between Nick Kyrgios and Milos Raonic.
Gulbis broke serve twice in the fifth and ninth games to win the first set 6-3. Wawrinka came back from 30-40 down to get his first break in the opening game of the second set and held his service games to open up a 3-1 lead. Gulbis held his service game at deuce in the fifth game, but he felt pain on his back and retired from the match. Gulbis had received treatment on his back earlier in the match.
Wawrinka, who won the first of his three Grand Slam titles in Melbourne in 2014, has advanced to the second round in each of his appearances at this tournament. The Lausanne player reached the quarter final in Doha in his first tournament of the 2019 season.
