Wawrinka's beautiful message after not receiving an invitation for his last US Open: "Eternally grateful, New York"
The 2016 champion avoids controversy despite not receiving an invitation to play one last time: “Here I experienced some of the strongest emotions of my entire career.”
Stan Wawrinka has always been a gentleman and a very elegant tennis player both in victory and in defeat. And his last gesture in his final year as a professional tennis player confirms this. After a few days of much criticism towards the US Open for not granting a Wild Card to the Swiss, who was champion in 2016, and after the complaint from his coach Magnus Norman, the 41-year-old player accepted the situation and, instead of fueling the controversy, wrote a beautiful and sincere message on his Instagram account.
“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. It brought out something in me that few places have managed to do. Here I experienced some of the strongest emotions of my entire career. The battles, the endless 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 always be one of the greatest moments of my life. Thank you, New York. Thank you, US Open. Thanks to every fan who supported me, who pushed me, who believed in me, and who shared all these emotions with me over the years. Eternally grateful. Eternally New York,” concluded the letter.
Stan Wawrinka not only won the US Open in 2016, but also reached two semifinals and three quarter-finals
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… pic.twitter.com/ci2vbWQWVT— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) August 25, 2026
It should be noted that Wawrinka won his third and final Grand Slam at the 2016 US Open against Novak Djokovic. He also achieved two semifinals (2013, 2015) and three quarter-finals (2010, 2014, 2019). Thus, he ends his presence at the US Open, and he will not be showing up at any Grand Slam, with his participation this year at Wimbledon being the last in a 'major'.
The Swiss's beautiful words contrast with those of his coach Magnus Norman, who has taken this rejection from the American tournament differently. “We pushed until the end to play one last Grand Slam at 41 years old, but we fell short. Of course it hurts, but thank you very much for all the beautiful memories we have had both on and off the court with you and the entire team over these last 13 years in New York.”
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Wawrinka manda un mensaje al US Open