A Champion's Farewell Denied
Stan Wawrinka, the 2016 US Open champion, will not compete in this year's tournament after the United States Tennis Association (USTA) declined to award him a wildcard. The 41-year-old Swiss, who announced 2026 as his final season, had received wildcards for the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier this year and reached the French Open main draw on ranking. His Grand Slam career now ends without a final appearance at Flushing Meadows.[S1][S3][S4]
Wawrinka, a three-time major winner, has slipped to 127th in the world rankings after struggling with injuries, including multiple knee and foot surgeries. He did not enter the US Open qualifying tournament, making the wildcard his only path to the main draw. The USTA, which organizes the tournament, does not comment on wildcard decisions, but the snub drew criticism from fans and observers.[S1][S4][S5]
Gratitude Over Grievance
In a social media post, Wawrinka expressed only appreciation, reflecting on his journey from a small farming village in Switzerland to the bright lights of New York. He described how the city challenged and pushed him, bringing out something few places could. He thanked the US Open and every fan who supported him, ending with 'Forever grateful. Forever New York.'[S1][S3][S5]
His coach, Magnus Norman, also shared a message on Instagram, saying they had pushed for one last Grand Slam at 41 but came up short. Norman acknowledged the hurt but thanked Wawrinka and the team for 13 years of beautiful memories in New York. The post included photos of Wawrinka's victories, including his win over Novak Djokovic in the 2016 final.[S1][S6]
Wildcard Controversy
Patrick Kypson, ranked 115th, received the USTA's final wildcard, bypassing Stan Wawrinka. Notably, other Grand Slams, including the Australian Open and Wimbledon, had included Wawrinka in their wildcard selections. Meanwhile, Gael Monfils, another retiring player, secured a wildcard through the French Tennis Federation for the French Open.[S1][S5]
Wawrinka's absence means he has played his last match at the US Open, where he made 17 appearances since his main-draw debut in 2005. His career includes three Grand Slam titles in consecutive years: the 2014 Australian Open, 2015 French Open, and 2016 US Open. He also won Olympic gold in doubles with Roger Federer in 2008 and reached a career-high ranking of No. 3.[S1][S5][S6]
