Wawrinka denied US Open wildcard ahead of retirement

Stan Wawrinka's Grand Slam career has concluded without a final appearance at the US Open after the tournament organizers declined to award him a wildcard for the 2026 event. The three-time major champion, who announced his retirement at the end of the year, had hoped to compete one last time at Flushing Meadows, the site of his 2016 title. Instead, the 41-year-old Swiss player will not participate in the tournament, which begins this week.

The US Open announced its final list of men's singles wildcards over the weekend, and Wawrinka's name was absent. The decision has drawn criticism from fans and commentators, with many expressing disappointment that a former champion was not granted a farewell appearance. There are no specific rules governing wildcard selections, which are typically awarded to host-nation players, athletes returning from injury, and retiring stars. While fellow retiree Gael Monfils, 39, received a wildcard through a reciprocal agreement with the French Tennis Federation, Wawrinka did not receive a similar invitation from the United States Tennis Association.

Wawrinka's coach, Magnus Norman, reacted to the news on social media. "We pushed to play one last...