Lucky Stan snares a late wild card after all

Stan Wawrinka’s luck turned on a dime for the US Open, with the former tournament champion receiving a late main draw wild card through a twist of fate.

The 34-year-old Swiss who had posted an emotional goodbye to the Open after being rejected for a card earlier this week in favour of a 26-year-old journeyman ranked 114 Patrick Kypson who had not played since a second-round Wimbledon loss  and has lost three times in USO qualifying.

Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam winner, lifted the Flushing Meadows trophy a decade ago.

Shortly after receiving the free entry, Kypson instead pulled out injured, sending Wawrinka, who will retire at season’s end, into the mix.

“I’m incredibly excited to accept the wild card for the 2026 US Open and look forward to competing in front of the fans in New York once again,” the Swiss said.

Earlier, Wawrinka had bid farewell to the event on social media in a heartfelt 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.

“But year after year New York slowly became one of my favorite places in the world,” he wrote.

“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.”

Main photo:- Stan Wawrinka had a farewell toast at the 2026 Australian Open from Tournament Director Craig Tiley, who is now CEO for USTA