Stan Wawrinka will get the farewell he wanted at the US Open after the three-time Grand Slam champion was awarded a last-minute wildcard for the 2026 tournament.
The 41-year-old Swiss veteran was initially left out of the US Open wildcard list, despite being in the final season of his professional career and having won the tournament in 2016. The decision sparked a strong reaction from fans, with many questioning why the former champion had not been given an opportunity to return to Flushing Meadows one final time.
Organisers eventually reversed course, confirming that Wawrinka would receive a place in the men's singles main draw.
The decision gives Wawrinka another chance to compete at the tournament where he produced one of the biggest achievements of his career. In 2016, he defeated Novak Djokovic in the final to claim his third and most recent Grand Slam title.
Source: BBC
Wawrinka's connection with the US Open goes much further than that championship run. He has enjoyed several deep runs in New York, reaching the semi-finals in 2013 and 2015 as well as the quarter-finals on three occasions. He has also recorded more than 40 main-draw victories at the tournament during a career that has spanned more than two decades.
The Swiss star has already announced that 2026 will be his final season on tour. Earlier this year, he competed at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, with wildcard entries helping him secure places in the Grand Slam main draws.
His season has included some difficult results, but Wawrinka's status as a three-time major champion and former world No. 3 has ensured that his farewell campaign remains a major story in tennis.
The initial decision to leave him out of the US Open was particularly surprising given his history at the tournament. Wawrinka had even appeared to say goodbye to the event after learning that he would not receive a wildcard.
Instead, he will now return to New York for one final appearance.
Wawrinka's inclusion also means fans will get another opportunity to watch one of the sport's most recognisable one-handed backhands on the biggest stage. His career has included Grand Slam victories over some of the greatest players of his generation, including Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and others during the era dominated by the Big Three.
The 2026 US Open will therefore carry a special significance for Wawrinka. It will not simply be another Grand Slam appearance, but a final chance to compete at the venue where he captured one of the defining titles of his career.
With the singles champion set to receive a record $5.5 million prize, the tournament will once again offer plenty of incentive for the world's best players. For Wawrinka, however, the biggest reward will be the opportunity to walk onto the New York court one more time.
After the uncertainty surrounding his wildcard, the former champion can now look forward to one final US Open chapter.
