Stan Wawrinka will not receive a wildcard to compete in his final US Open appearance, ending hopes of a farewell run at the tournament where he claimed one of his three Grand Slam titles a decade ago. The 41-year-old Swiss player, who will retire at the conclusion of 2026, expressed gratitude to the event and New York despite the rejection, calling his 2016 US Open victory
one of the greatest moments of my life.
According to , the USTA finalized its men's singles wildcard list over the weekend, with the remaining spots awarded to Patrick Kypson and Darwin Blanch. Wawrinka, who has fallen outside the top 100 in rankings following years of injury struggles and inconsistent form, does not appear on that list. also reported that Wawrinka will not enter qualifying, effectively closing all conventional routes to the main draw.
The decision has drawn criticism from some quarters of the tennis community. Wawrinka received wildcards for farewell appearances at three other majors this year—the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon—making the US Open the sole Grand Slam where he was denied a direct path to competition. The Athletic reported that the USTA had not publicly explained its reasoning for excluding the 2016 champion from the wildcard allocation.
At the Australian Open in Melbourne earlier this year, Wawrinka advanced to the third round. His appearances at Roland Garros and the All England Club proved more difficult; he lost in the first round at Roland Garros and suffered a similar early exit at Wimbledon.
A Career Defined by Breakthrough Moments
Wawrinka stands among the select group of players who captured major singles titles during the dominance of the 'Big Three'—Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. His three Grand Slam victories came in 2014 at the Australian Open, 2015 at the French Open, and his signature triumph at Flushing Meadows in 2016, when he defeated Djokovic in the final. He reached a career-high ranking of world number three and made 17 main-draw appearances at the US Open since his debut there in 2005.
Why Was Wawrinka Denied a Wildcard?
Wildcards are distributed to players who have not qualified automatically through ranking or other criteria. Wawrinka's ranking outside the top 100 placed him below the automatic cutoff. Wildcards are typically assigned through national tennis federations rather than by individual tournaments. Switzerland does not host a Grand Slam, and reciprocal wildcard arrangements—where federations exchange spots—did not benefit Wawrinka at the US Open. By contrast, France's Gael Monfils, who is also retiring this season, received a wildcard through the French Tennis Federation, which organises the French Open.
What Did Wawrinka Say About Missing Out?
Despite the disappointment, Wawrinka expressed deep affection for the tournament and the city in a social media post.
When I first arrived in New York from a small farming village in Switzerland, everything felt too big. The city. The noise. The energy. The crowds. The lights,he wrote, reflecting on his early career visits. He continued:
But, year after year, New York slowly became one of my favourite places in the world. This city challenged me. It pushed me. It brought something out of me that few places ever could.
Wawrinka described the emotional weight of his time competing in New York, saying
I experienced some of the strongest emotions of my career here. The battles, the late nights, the incredible atmosphere, the love from the crowd… memories that will stay with me forever.He concluded by reaffirming that
Winning the US Open, in the city that never sleeps, will forever be one of the greatest moments of my life.
His coach, Magnus Norman, acknowledged the effort to secure a final Grand Slam appearance at age 41.
We pushed to play one last Grand Slam at 41 years of age but we just came up short,Norman wrote on Instagram.
It sure hurts but thanks for all the beautiful memories on and off the court together with you and the team in New York for the past 13 years.
What Happens Next?
US Open qualifying begins this week, but Wawrinka is not entered in that draw. His only remaining path to the main tournament would require late withdrawals from other players, which would be an unusual circumstance. The main draw begins on Sunday, 30 August at Flushing Meadows. With no qualifying entry and no wildcard, Wawrinka's farewell tour will conclude without a final appearance at the venue of his greatest triumph.
