Stan Wawrinka will get one final chance to compete at the US Open after all, having been handed a wildcard into the main draw following an injury withdrawal. The 41-year-old Swiss, who has announced he will retire at the end of the season, was initially left off the entry list for the year’s final Grand Slam, a decision that drew criticism given his past success in New York, where he claimed the 2016 title.
Wawrinka’s place in the tournament was confirmed on Wednesday after American Patrick Kypson pulled out with an injury, freeing up a spot in the field. The three-time major champion said he was “incredibly excited” to accept the wildcard and looked forward to competing in front of New York fans once more.
His selection comes a day after Wawrinka posted an emotional message to the tournament on social media, reminiscing about arriving in New York from a small farming village in Switzerland and how the city gradually became one of his favourite places. He described his US Open victory as “forever one of the greatest moments of my life” and spoke of the battles, late nights and incredible atmosphere he experienced there.
Wawrinka, a former world number three, won his other two major titles at the 2014 Australian Open and the 2015 French Open, making him one of the few men to break through during the era dominated by Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. He has struggled with injuries and form in recent years and has fallen outside the top 100, which meant he did not qualify automatically by ranking.
This will be his 18th appearance in New York since his main draw debut in 2005. Earlier this year, he received wildcards for the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and reached the main draw at the French Open on his ranking.
The USTA initially awarded most wildcards to American players, with only reciprocal spots reserved for players from France and Australia. France’s Gael Monfils, also retiring this season, obtained his wildcard through the French Tennis Federation. While home players typically dominate wildcard allocations across all Grand Slams, tournament organisers in Australia and Britain also found room for Wawrinka earlier this season. The US Open begins on Sunday, 30 August.