Emotional Stan Wawrinka Bids Goodbye to US Open After Playing Career’s Last Grand Slam Match: “I’m Going to Miss It Big Time”

Stan Wawrinka was uncertain about the US Open wild card. A former champion at the tournament, Wawrinka flew back to Switzerland after being initially denied the wild card, but following backlash, he was awarded one.

And as expected from Wawrinka, he gave his all during the first-round match against Matteo Berrettini. The match, held on Monday (August 31), saw Wawrinka lose with a 7-6(4), 7-6(3), 6-0 scoreline, in what was also his career’s final Grand Slam clash.

It has been 20 years since I first came to New York. I remember the first time I came here. It was impressive for me to feel the New York vibe and the energy of this tournament. But over the years, I have received so much support and love. Because of you [the fans], I really enjoyed it, and I found a way to play my best tennis here.

Stan Wawrinka said during his on-court interview

Wawrinka will hang up his racket at the end of this season. He plans to play his career’s first match at the Swiss Indoors, an ATP 500 event in Basel, which starts on August 24.

Even I went back to Switzerland, and I came back. I would like to thank the tournament for the wild card because, for me, to have this opportunity to finish here was really meaningful for myself. So I’m super grateful to have received the wild card because it was something important for me to have the opportunity to finish the four Grand Slams here in New York 10 years after winning. I’m going to miss it for sure. I’m going to miss it big time.

Stan Wawrinka added

It was in Flushing Meadows back in 2016 that Wawrinka lifted his career’s third Grand Slam title by defeating Novak Djokovic. He lifted his career’s first Major at the 2014 Australian Open by beating Rafael Nadal, then beat the 24-time Grand Slam champion in the French Open final the following year.

In the first three Majors of the season, Wawrinka lost in the third round of the Australian Open and the first round of both the French Open and Wimbledon.

Stan Wawrinka reacts to Novak Djokovic’s US Open exit

A day before Stan Wawrinka‘s US Open defeat, Mariano Navone sent shock waves across the tennis world when he upset an ailing Novak Djokovic in the first round. Djokovic struggled physically throughout the match. He even vomited multiple times and broke down in tears during the fifth set.

It was the first time Nole lost in the first round of the US Open, in what was also his career’s third first-round upset in Majors. It was also the first time since the 2006 Australian Open that he crashed out of a Major in the first round. Reacting to his shocking defeat, Wawrinka, who would have faced Djokovic had both won their first-round matches, said at the press conference:

Novak, of course, he was struggling physically. We don’t know exactly what. […] I think, in general, if you look at the year he’s having in Grand Slam, he’s making final, semifinals, so he was there as the first time; he lost first one here, so of course was tough for him, but I think as long as he’s playing, he knows he’s going to be really dangerous.

Djokovic had a good opportunity to end his Grand Slam title drought, as last year’s runner-up Jannik Sinner withdrew due to a knee injury and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is playing without any match practice, as he made his comeback after nearly a five-month injury hiatus.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion, who beat Djokovic in this year’s Australian Open final, injured his wrist during the Barcelona Open. Djokovic lost to Joao Fonseca in Paris and to Sinner at Wimbledon.

Also read: Justine Henin Sounds the Alarm Bells on Novak Djokovic’s Future After US Open Exit: “Best is Behind Him”