Stan Wawrinka Misses US Open Wildcard in Final Season

Stan Wawrinka will miss the 2026 US Open after not receiving a main-draw wildcard for the final Grand Slam of his last professional season. BBC Sport reported that the 41-year-old Swiss did not enter qualifying despite being inside the qualifying cut-off, leaving him without another route into the tournament in New York.

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The decision closes the door on a farewell appearance at the major Wawrinka won in 2016. He defeated Novak Djokovic in that final after losing the opening set, completing a run of three Grand Slam titles in three seasons. His other major championships came at the 2014 Australian Open, where he beat Rafael Nadal in the final, and the 2015 French Open, where he also overcame Djokovic.

Wawrinka had received wildcards at each of the year's first three Grand Slam tournaments. He reached the third round at the Australian Open before losing in the first round at both the French Open and Wimbledon. BBC Sport said the US Open received criticism over its decision not to extend the same opportunity in New York.

The United States Tennis Association's published wildcard list did not include the former champion. The official US Open site said its men's main-draw recipients included Gael Monfils and Alexei Popyrin as well as a group of American players. The tournament's qualifying competition runs from August 24 to 27, while the singles main draw is scheduled from August 30 through September 13.

Wawrinka responded in a social media post by thanking the US Open and the city for the memories created during his career. He described his 2016 championship as one of the greatest moments of his life and expressed disappointment that he would not return for one final appearance. BBC Sport said it had contacted the USTA for comment.

The US Open absence leaves Wawrinka's farewell season to continue away from Flushing Meadows. He announced before the season that 2026 would be his final year on tour, and BBC Sport previously reported that he intends to finish at the Swiss Indoors in Basel in October. Whatever follows in the remaining weeks, his last New York appearance has already taken place, with the 2016 title remaining the defining result of his US Open career.