Stan Wawrinka exits US Open in first round to Matteo Berrettini, ending Grand Slam career

First-round defeat on Grandstand

Swiss competitor Stan Wawrinka, playing at age 41 in the final season of his career, exited the US Open on Monday, 31 August 2026, following a 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3), 6-0 loss to Italy's Matteo Berrettini. The first-round contest on Grandstand court lasted two hours and 54 minutes. Wawrinka, ranked 127th in the ATP rankings, fought through two tight sets against the world number 43 before Berrettini took the third set without dropping a game in 38 minutes, finishing the match at 18:52 local time.

Wawrinka created one set point in the opening frame and held three set points in the second set while leading 5-3, but could not convert any of them. Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon runner-up who previously defeated Wawrinka at Wimbledon in four tiebreak sets, forced tiebreaks in both sets and won each. During the match, Berrettini requested a video review over an alleged double hit by Wawrinka on a net volley, but officials dismissed the claim.

Last-minute entry and farewell tribute

Wawrinka entered the main draw after American player Patrick Kypson, ranked 116th, withdrew due to injury. The Swiss player had previously released a farewell message when initially left off the wild card list before tournament organizers awarded him Kypson's open spot. Following the match, Berrettini declined to celebrate at court center to allow Wawrinka to receive applause from the crowd of approximately 8,000 spectators.

Berrettini praised the former world number three during his post-match remarks.

It is lovely to share the court with this legend of the sport.

Tournament director Eric Butorac and executive Craig Tiley presented Wawrinka with a framed poster commemorating his performances in New York. Wawrinka won the US Open in 2016 against Novak Djokovic and reached the semifinals in 2013 and 2015.

Addressing the spectators following the presentation, Wawrinka reflected on his time in New York.

I played my best tennis here in New York. I had the chance to say goodbye here. I wanted to push to my limits, I reached them today.

Two decades in Grand Slam tournaments

The result brought an end to Wawrinka's Grand Slam career across 78 tournament appearances dating back to 2005. Over 234 matches at the four Grand Slam tournaments, he compiled 160 victories and collected three singles titles: the Australian Open in 2014, Roland-Garros in 2015, and the US Open in 2016, along with a final appearance in Paris in 2017. He also claimed an Olympic doubles gold medal in Beijing in 2008 alongside Roger Federer.

Farewell schedule and tournament progression

Across his final Grand Slam campaign in 2026, Wawrinka reached the third round of the Australian Open before suffering first-round exits at Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, and Flushing Meadows. Although his Grand Slam career is complete, Wawrinka is scheduled to compete at the Swiss Indoors in Basel in late October. He will conclude his professional career on 19 December with a farewell exhibition event at Palexpo in Geneva alongside Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and Gaël Monfils. Berrettini moves into the second round to play Argentina's Mariano Navone, who eliminated fourth seed Novak Djokovic in five sets.