Stan Wawrinka misses US Open 2026 farewell invitation

Stan Wawrinka will not make a final US Open appearance before ending his career after the 2026 season. The 41-year-old Swiss was left out of the tournament’s men’s wildcards, ending his hopes of one last Grand Slam match in New York.

Wawrinka won the US Open in 2016, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final, and has played there 17 times since his debut in 2005. His latest match at Flushing Meadows was a first-round defeat by Italy’s Mattia Bellucci in 2024, while he was also absent in 2025. His most recent Grand Slam match came at Wimbledon, where he lost a long first-round contest to Matteo Berrettini.

The two remaining invitations went to American players Darwin Blanch and Patrick Kypson. Wawrinka had received wildcards for the Australian Open, Roland-Garros and Wimbledon during his final season. The men’s draw will still include two non-American invitees, France’s Gaël Monfils and Australia’s Dane Sweeny. Monfils is also due to retire at the end of 2026.

The decision prompted criticism and disappointment around Wawrinka’s farewell plans. His long-time coach Magnus Norman said the team had tried to secure one last major appearance but had narrowly failed, describing the outcome as painful. Wawrinka won three Grand Slam titles and reached the US Open semi-finals in 2013 and 2015 before claiming the trophy three years later.