Stan Wawrinka, the Swiss tennis star and 2016 US Open champion, has announced his departure from the tournament through a touching social media message. At 41 years old and currently ranked 127 in the ATP standings, Wawrinka did not receive an invitation to participate in what would have been his final match in New York.
His career in Grand Slam tournaments concluded at Wimbledon in 2026. Wawrinka and his coach had hoped to end his journey at the US Open, but the organizers opted not to offer him a spot in the main draw.
On Tuesday evening, Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam winner and former world number three, expressed his gratitude for the tournament where he achieved the most success. Aside from his 2016 title, he reached the semifinals twice in 2013 and 2015, and made it to the quarterfinals in 2010 and 2014.
In his farewell message, he reminisced, “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. But year after year, New York slowly became one of my favorite places in the world. This city challenged me. It pushed me to go further. It brought something out of me that few places ever have.”
Wawrinka continued, “Here, I experienced some of the strongest emotions of my career. The battles, the late nights, the incredible atmosphere, the love of the crowd… memories that will stay with me forever. Winning the US Open in the city that never sleeps will always remain one of the most beautiful moments of my life. Thank you, New York. Thank you, US Open. Thank you to every fan who supported me, pushed me to go on, believed in me, and shared all these emotions with me over the years. Grateful forever. New York forever.”
Coach Magnus Norman Shares Disappointment
While Wawrinka maintained an elegant tone, his coach Magnus Norman expressed his disappointment over not being able to experience one final Grand Slam tournament with him. “I fought hard to play a last Grand Slam at 41, but it didn’t happen. It certainly hurts, but thank you for all the wonderful memories both on and off the court together in New York over the past 13 years,” Norman posted on social media.
Wawrinka plans to retire at the end of this year, with a farewell event scheduled in Bucharest, Romania, on December 12, 2026, at the Polyvalent Hall, where he played his first Davis Cup match for his country in 2004.
