2014 Aussie Open champ Wawrinka upset by Sandgren in 2nd round

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Former champion Stan Wawrinka wasn't sure if he was ready to play the Australian Open after left knee surgery last year left him behind in his preparations. It showed on Thursday.

Wawrinka never looked capable of winning his third-round match, losing 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 to American Tennys Sandgren. The Swiss star is seeded ninth, Sandgren is ranked 97th.

The 2014 Australian Open champion spent eight weeks on crutches following his surgery, and pulled out of an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi two weeks before the Australian Open.

He admitted that he waited until the last possible moment before deciding to play in Melbourne after not having played a competitive match since Wimbledon.

The 32-year-old Wawrinka was attempting to make the third round for the 10th consecutive year.