Nightspot turned away partying Stan Wawrinka

IF Stan Wawrinka thought an Open title would prove a key to the city of Melbourne, it did not take long for him to be disappointed.

IF Stan Wawrinka thought an Australian Open title would prove a key to the city of Melbourne, it did not take long for him to be disappointed.

After toppling an injured Rafael Nadal on Sunday night, the fun-loving Wawrinka declared: "There is a big chance I'll get drunk tonight, but we'll see."

A man who likes his beer, the Swiss proved true to his word, taking his party to a string of Melbourne nightspots.

But at one bar, a scene as curious as the men's final occurred. Having made a brief appearance at the Open's staff shindig after completing his press commitments, the Wawrinka group exited Melbourne Park just after 1am. The first stop for the party of between 15 and 20 was Siglo, a rooftop bar overlooking Parliament House on Spring St.

But it was when the group made its way down to The Melbourne Supper Club below that the evening struck a curve ball akin to his fumbled performance during the third set of his final against Nadal. Not realising it was a different bar - understandable, for only regular visitors would make the distinction - the new world No 3 walked downstairs guzzling a glass of champagne, but was halted by the maitre d'.

Although there was plenty of space available, bar staff refused to seat the party, with an increasingly agitated Wawrinka draining his glass before dropping it on a lounge in disgust.

After the group left, a waiter who was quizzed as to the reason for turning away a man who had just won $2.65 million, said the bar would only seat groups of a maximum of 10 to 12 people at a time, not the handful more in the 28-year-old's party.

"We turn away rock stars all the time," he said.

After some hastily placed phone calls to tournament staff, the group made their way across town to The Emerson and then Argo Bar on Commercial Rd, where Australian Open staffers gladly welcomed them.

If Wawrinka looked a little world weary when he fronted for a series of photographs on the Yarra River yesterday morning, it is hardly surprising - a witness told The Australian he was still partying, drink in hand, until well after 5am, as the Alicia Keys song Empire State of Mind played in the background.

No doubt worn out by the effort involved in winning a grand slam title, Switzerland's new No 1 man - Roger Federer slipped to eight after his semi-final loss to Nadal - seemed exhausted when he appeared at Melbourne Park for his take on the morning after the night before.

"It's been crazy, what is happening to me. Maybe it is my one chance in my life to win a final," he said.

"I was with my friends, my team, my family. We celebrated a little bit, enjoyed the moment and, yeah, for sure, we came back late, so I only had a few hours sleep, but that is a good problem to have."

Although Wawrinka is an unlikely winner, joining Juan Martin del Potro as the only player aside from the big four of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray to win a slam since 2005, he is also a deserving victor. It is not a surprise that the Swiss feels it is a dream, for he did not believe he belonged among the elite as recently as last year's US Open, where he fell to Djokovic in a five-set semi-final.

"I knew and realised last year that I was close to making a big result and I did, making the semi-finals but even if I was to win that match, I would have had to play Rafa in the final and for me, that is too much," Wawrinka said.

"That is why I was saying that I never dreamed of winning a grand slam.

"For me, it was just not my level, just not my goal."

There was no Eureka moment that transformed him from a top 10 fixture to a grand slam winner. As much as he loves a good time, Wawrinka stressed that he had spent his life trying to improve, with the past fortnight simply a culmination of that.

"It is just my time. I am 28. I am more mature. I understand better why I win and why I lose," he said.

While Wawrinka was still pinching himself yesterday morning, and not simply because he was trying to sober up, he is not alone in pondering the significance of his breakthrough.

When Djokovic claimed the past three titles in Melbourne, there was logic to his next goal.

Could he break through at the French? Was a Grand Slam possible? Could he regain or retain the world's top ranking?

Wawrinka is yet to place his triumph in perspective, having never believed himself capable of reaching this peak.

"For sure, when you are No 3 and you win a grand slam, journalists will expect you to say you want to be No 1, but I feel it is so far away, so far not my level and that is why it is not my goal," he said.

The one thing Wawrinka is certain of is that it is premature to claim an end to the big four's dominance, despite a drastic reshuffle of the rankings that also saw Murray drop to No 6.

"It is not that simple. They just play amazing tennis, every tournament, every grand slam, so to win a grand slam, you have to play a perfect two weeks," he said.

That, a wobble here or there aside, is what Wawrinka managed. And every time he returns to Melbourne, he will see a reminder along the Walk of Champions that takes players to Rod Laver Arena.

"The first thing I will do, I am going to come back and take a picture of myself," he said. "It is a dream. When I see all these champions, for me they are the real champions and to be there, it is just something crazy. I have my trophy. I have my grand slam. No one can take it back."