After fan backlash, Stan Wawrinka gets to make farewell appearance at US Open

Stan Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, has been granted a late wildcard entry into the 2026 US Open, offering him one final opportunity to compete in the prestigious tournament. The 41-year-old Swiss player, who won the US Open in 2016, was initially left off the list of wildcard entries, sparking controversy about the selection process for the Majors. Wawrinka expressed his excitement about accepting the wildcard and competing in front of the New York fans once more in a recent statement.

Wawrinka's wildcard selection follows his participation at the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon on wildcards this year. After missing out on the US Open wild card earlier, Wawrinka shared a farewell message on social media on Tuesday, seemingly closing the door on any possibility of him participating in the year's final Major. The tennis veteran announced on December 19, 2025 that the 2026 season would be his last on the tour.

During his illustrious career, Wawrinka reached the third round of the Australian Open, losing to No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz in four sets. At the French Open, he was defeated by lucky loser Jesper de Jong in the first round. In Wimbledon, Wawrinka lost to Matteo Berrettini in the first round. Notably, Wawrinka's peak coincided with the years dominated by tennis greats Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray.

He beat Nadal in the 2014 Australian Open final and Djokovic in the subsequent year to claim the French Open title. Wawrinka also triumphed over Djokovic again in 2016 to secure the US Open championship, even though he failed to defend his title. The player reached the No. 3 ATP ranking and teamed up with Federer to win the 2008 Olympic gold medal in men's doubles.