Stan Wawrinka Not ‘Worried’ About Australian Open Wild Card in Farewell Season
Stan Wawrinka lifted his career's first Grand Slam title at the 2014 Australian Open by going past Rafael Nadal.
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Stan Wawrinka (Image via X/Solo Tenis Picks)
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Stan Wawrinka has made it clear that he is not concerned about the Australian Open wild card. The first Major of the season is scheduled to start on January 18, and Wawrinka, who is playing in his farewell tour, surprisingly, hasn’t received the wild card.
Wawrinka stands in the 156th position on the rankings table, which means he won’t be getting direct entry into the main draw without playing the qualifying rounds. In the ongoing United Cup, Switzerland first went past France 3-0 in the group stage after Belinda Bencic‘s win over Leolia Jeanjean and Wawrinka’s win over Arthur Rinderknech. Later, Switzerland secured their mixed doubles win.
After France, Switzerland met Italy and secured a 2-1 win. But Wawrinka lost a tough three-set match against Flavio Cobolli. Switzerland later locked horns with Argentina in the quarterfinals and knocked them out 2-1.
Bencic breezed past Solana Sierra, but Wawrinka couldn’t give them a 2-0 lead as he lost in straight sets to Sebastian Baez. But later, Jakub Paul and Bencic beat the pair of Maria Lourdes Carle and Guido Andreozzi in mixed doubles. At the press conference after this tie, Wawrinka made his feelings known on not receiving the wild card for the Australian Open.
I think, like I said already yesterday or two days ago, I’m super happy if I get one. I want to play one more time. Of course, it’s my last year. Amazing memories from there, but I’m so grateful I received one last year. Wild card, it’s a wild card. I had one job to do if I wanted to play one more time was to be in the top 100, and I’m not.
Stan Wawrinka said
The 40-year-old is a former Australian Open champion, winning the title in 2014 by defeating Rafael Nadal. Since that win, he made two semifinals, last going deep in 2020 as he reached the quarterfinals.
So far, I’m happy we are here in Perth. We did amazing week. Enjoying that with the team. Going to Sydney, playing there again. Next week I’m going to play Auckland. Got the wild card there. I’m happy where I am right now, and I’m not worried too much about what’s going to happen in Melbourne.
Stan Wawrinka added
Switzerland’s semifinal opponents are Belgium. Prior to scheduling the clash with the Swiss team, Belgium went past the Czech Republic 2-1. If Switzerland reach the final, they will face the United States, Poland, or Australia.
Stan Wawrinka on his match against Sebastian Baez
Stan Wawrinka squared off against Sebastian Baez for the first time in his career. In the press conference, following the Switzerland versus Argentina clash, Wawrinka shared his experience of playing Baez.
Yeah, it was a tough match, of course. I think he played well. He went for it. He didn’t surprise me, because I did practice with him before starting here, the week, and with Magnus [Norman], my coach, we saw that he improved a lot compared to last year. He was putting more pressure. It was more difficult.
Baez, a World No.43 player, will be aiming to make a deep run in a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. He has never progressed to the fourth round of a Major, reaching the third round just once, at the 2023 US Open. Last year, he failed to progress beyond the first round of all four Grand Slam events.
But the 25-year-old lifted his career’s seventh title last year. He made three finals in the 2025 season, winning the Rio Open by defeating Alexandre Muller and losing the Chile Open and the Romanian Open to Laslo Djere and Flavio Cobolli.
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