Wawrinka, on the brink of his last Grand Slam: "I can't take it anymore, I seized every opportunity I had"
Many things have had to happen for Stan Wawrinka to say goodbye these days to the last Grand Slam of his career. Thanks to a wildcard, the Swiss player is already beginning to live his countdown.
After many back and forths, we can say that the telenovela has ended well. Stan Wawrinka will be part of the US Open 2026 thanks to a wildcard that was initially denied and then granted, a piece of news that the entire tennis world has celebrated.
As an adult over 40 years old, Wawrinka cares little about what shortcut led him to occupy one of the 128 spots in the main draw in New York. In the end, what he wanted will come true in the coming days when he steps onto the court to face Matteo Berrettini in the first round. It will be his last Grand Slam tournament, an event that will gather thousands of fans behind him. But before the action, we hear from the Swiss in a press conference reflecting on how these last hours have been.
Wawrinka reflects on his last dance at Grand Slam
“Right now, I'm really good. I'm super happy to be here and very grateful for the wildcard. For me, this is my last year and this is my last Grand Slam of my career, so of course, it will be special when I play the match. That's for sure. I will feel it. It's obvious. But I am very excited; I am happy. I am enjoying the fact of having this opportunity to be here one last time. Playing this last year is, of course, special, but being able to compete in all four Grand Slams was important to me and I am enjoying it a lot.”
The indelible memory of 2016
“The final, the day of the final, the excitement of playing here. I think of the match, the energy, the people, the fans. Before that, I saw many US Open finals, so having the opportunity, at 31 years old, to play that final against Novak was really special. I think every victory is special anywhere, especially in a Grand Slam. New York is, by far, one of my favorite cities. I always enjoy being here, I have many friends, I love the city and I love its energy. The US Open is something really special as a tennis player, from the first one to those three weeks. You see the support, you see the fans. I've been here for over 20 years. I have played on all the courts, even the small ones and the practice ones. There's always a lot of support, many fans. I've always enjoyed that.”
From being out of the tournament to receiving a last-minute call
“It was a bit of a roller coaster, of course, because I went back home on Monday night from New York. For me, at that moment, it was the end of my career in Grand Slams. I would have loved to be here. So I had to accept those emotions for not having the wildcard and I was fine with it. At the end of the day, I always say that the only way to be sure of playing a tournament is to have the necessary ranking. I knew I wasn't directly on the list, so I was hoping for a wildcard, but I also know that wildcards are not guaranteed. Not having it was not a problem for me. I was just sad that I couldn't say goodbye to New York and the US Open. I received the call Wednesday night or Wednesday afternoon when I was in the Swiss mountains. Of course, I was happy and had to quickly arrange my return.”
Words for Nishikori and a tremendous career
“He is an incredible player, an incredible fighter. We have played great matches over the years, especially here as well, twice: in the semifinals of 2016 and in 2014, when he defeated me in the quarterfinals. He was always a very difficult opponent, a fast player, a shot-maker, and a super nice person off the court. We have trained together many times over more than 15 years on the circuit. Yes, he had an amazing career.”
Wawinka speaks about his first round in New York against Berrettini
“It will be a very interesting rematch, of course. Wimbledon was a tough battle. It was a great match. I think we both played well. Over four hours, four tie-breaks, so it was really special, on Court 1. In the end, he is a really tough player to face. He’s a great guy. He is also a good friend, so it will be special to play against him here again.”
At peace with his career, including the end
“I think for me, when I started to play, when I dreamed of being a professional tennis player, of being among the top 100 and having this opportunity, my main goal was not to have regrets when I finished this sport. I believe I did everything I could to be the best version of a tennis player I could be. I always pushed myself to the limit during all those years, trying to give it my all on and off the court. With that, I am quite at peace with myself. I know I couldn't have done better. I know I took advantage of every opportunity I had. Of course, I have small regrets. There are many matches I would like to change the outcome of, but in the end, as I say, I am at peace with myself. For me, that is the most important thing.”
His friend Federer is already in the Hall of Fame
“I think he deserves it, right? I think there is no doubt about that. He has led this sport for so many years. He has been an example both on and off the court for so many people, many players, and many fans. It has been special for me to share the court with him, and also off the court, playing on the same team in the Davis Cup, in the Olympics with him, of course. I am super grateful for all the opportunities I had with him.”
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Wawrinka, a las puertas de su último Grand Slam: “No puedo más, tomé todas las oportunidades que tuve”