Stan Wawrinka denied final Grand Slam appearance after US Open omits him from wildcards

Wildcard allocations for Flushing Meadows

Organisers of the US Open announced on Saturday, 22 August 2026, the distribution of the final main draw wildcards for the tournament running from 30 August to 13 September. The last two available berths were awarded to American players Patrick Kypson, aged 26 and ranked 115th in the ATP rankings, and 18-year-old Darwin Blanch, ranked 224th. Blanch was granted the spot after 94th-ranked American Martin Damm was forced to withdraw. Swiss player Stan Wawrinka, who won the tournament in 2016 and is currently ranked 125th, did not receive an invitation from the organisers. Because Wawrinka is not enrolled in the qualifying tournament that begins on Monday, the decision formally concludes his appearances at Grand Slam events.

Reciprocal agreements and qualification status

Wawrinka had officially requested a wildcard entry in mid-July as part of his farewell season on the ATP Tour.

I hope to be able to play there one last time.

His management stated that the 41-year-old was fit to play and waiting for clearance from New York. Wawrinka had already traveled to North America to compete in the Cancun Challenger in Mexico, where he was eliminated on Friday, 21 August, in the round of 16 by Roman Safiullin. The decision leaves Wawrinka without an entry, while his contemporary Gaël Monfils received a wildcard for his own final tour season. Monfils secured his invitation through the reciprocal wildcard exchange agreement among the US Open, Roland-Garros, and the Australian Open. The Australian federation allocated its exchange wildcard to world number 125 Dane Sweeny, while players representing nations without a Grand Slam tournament hold no access to reciprocal spots.

Final Grand Slam campaign

The omission closes Wawrinka's Grand Slam career ten years after he defeated Novak Djokovic in four sets to win the 2016 US Open title. Wawrinka had received main draw wildcards at all three preceding Grand Slam events in 2026. At the Australian Open, he advanced to the third round before falling to Taylor Fritz in four sets over 2 hours and 45 minutes. At Roland-Garros, he exited in the first round against Jesper De Jong in 3 hours and 4 minutes. His final Grand Slam match took place in July at Wimbledon, where he contested an opening-round match against Matteo Berrettini. The duel lasted 4 hours and 11 minutes, with Berrettini prevailing in four consecutive tiebreak sets.

Conclusion of retirement tour

Wawrinka has not recorded a match win on the main ATP Tour since May 2026 and plans to retire at the close of the 2026 season. His career will conclude with an exhibition farewell evening titled "One last backhand" on 19 December 2026 at Palexpo in Geneva. The event will include participation from former rivals and colleagues Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and Gaël Monfils.