Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Stan Wawrinka defeated Novak Djokovic to win the US Open in 2016
ByHarry PooleBBC Sport journalist- Published25 August 2026, 16:48 BST
Stan Wawrinka says his US Open triumph will "forever be one of the greatest moments of my life" after missing out on a wildcard for a farewell appearance in New York.
The 41-year-old will retire at the end of year and was given a wildcard for this year's Australian Open and Wimbledon, while reaching the French Open main-draw on ranking.
He reached the third round in Melbourne and lost a pair of entertaining first-round matches in Paris and Wimbledon respectively.
The US Open has received some criticism for its decision not to award a wildcard to 2016 champion Wawrinka, who did not enter qualifying despite being inside the cut-off.
BBC Sport has contacted the United States Tennis Association (USTA) for comment.
Despite not receiving a wildcard, Wawrinka thanked the US Open and the city of New York in a social media post.
"When I first arrived in New York from a small farming village in Switzerland, everything felt too big. The city. The noise. The energy. The crowds. The lights," the Swiss wrote.
"But, year after year, New York slowly became one of my favourite places in the world.
"This city challenged me. It pushed me. It brought something out of me that few places ever could.
"I experienced some of the strongest emotions of my career here. The battles, the late nights, the incredible atmosphere, the love from the crowd… memories that will stay with me forever.
"Winning the US Open, in the city that never sleeps, will forever be one of the greatest moments of my life."
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Wawrinka was one of the few players to win major singles trophies during the 'Big Three' era of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
The former world number three won the 2014 Australian Open and 2015 French Open before triumphing at the US Open 10 years ago.
He made 17 appearances in the men's singles in New York since making his main-draw debut in 2005.
Wawrinka's coach, Magnus Norman, wrote on Instagram: "We pushed to play one last Grand Slam at 41 years of age but we just came up short.
"It sure hurts but thanks for all the beautiful memories on and off the court together with you and the team in New York for the past 13 years."
Wildcards are given to players who did not qualify automatically for the tournament by ranking. Wawrinka has fallen outside the top 100 after struggling with injuries and form in recent years.
Switzerland also does not host a Grand Slam, with tournaments reserving reciprocal wildcards for one another.
France's Gael Monfils, who is also retiring this season, was given a wildcard through the French Tennis Federation, which organises the French Open.
Reciprocal wildcards are assigned by the national federations and not the US Open.
The US Open gets under way on Sunday, 30 August at Flushing Meadows.
How are wildcards decided?
ByRussell FullerTennis correspondent in New YorkOther than the reciprocal wildcards the USTA reserves for French and Australian players, the other six wildcards for both the men's and women's singles went to Americans.
The USTA organises and bankrolls the US Open, and would argue it has every right to put its own players first.
But when a charismatic champion like Wawrinka is not given the chance to say a proper farewell to the event he won in 2016, then the sport as a whole suffers.
Home players dominate the list of wildcards at all the Grand Slams, but the Australian Open found space for Stan Wawrinka and Venus Williams, while Wimbledon offered wildcards to Wawrinka, Grigor Dimitrov, Serena Williams and French Open runner-up Maja Chwalinska.
