Swiss tennis icon Stanislas Wawrinka faces an anxious wait to see if he will be granted a wildcard entry for what is expected to be his final Australian Open appearance. The 40-year-old, who triumphed at Melbourne Park in 2014, announced last month that he will retire at the end of the 2026 season, concluding a remarkable 24-year professional career.
The Wildcard Dilemma for a Champion
Currently ranked 157th in the world, Wawrinka no longer qualifies automatically for the main draws of Grand Slam tournaments. This means his participation in the Australian Open, which begins on January 18, hinges entirely on tournament organisers offering him a special invitation, known as a wildcard. He required and received one for last year's event but suffered a first-round exit, a pattern he has experienced for three consecutive years.
When questioned about his wildcard prospects at the United Cup team event, Wawrinka expressed a philosophical outlook. "I don't know, actually. For me, I'm taking week after week," he stated. "When I receive good news, like I did for playing here and the wildcard for Auckland, I'm super happy. When I don't receive one, that's all good, I'm going to go for the next tournament."
Teammates Rally Behind the Swiss Star
The sentiment within the Swiss camp at the United Cup is one of strong support for their veteran teammate. Fellow player Luca Castelnuovo called the decision a "no-brainer," while former world number four Belinda Bencic was even more direct in her assessment. "It's not even a question. I don't know what they're waiting for," Bencic remarked, highlighting the respect Wawrinka commands within the sport.
Australian Open officials have not yet finalised the complete list of wildcard recipients. However, they recently granted one to 45-year-old Venus Williams, who will become the oldest woman to compete in the main draw, setting a precedent for honouring legendary careers.
Fighting Spirit in a Final Season
Despite the uncertainty, Wawrinka is demonstrating his trademark fighting spirit at the start of his farewell season. At the United Cup, he has already endured over six hours on court across two gruelling matches. He secured a three-set victory over France's Arthur Rinderknech but fell to Italy's Flavio Cobolli in another tight three-set battle.
Reflecting on his intense start to the year, Wawrinka joked, "It's my last year, so I need to spend the maximum of time on the court, so I make sure that happens in every match." He added, "In general I'm quite happy with my level... I can see that physically I'm good. I'm feeling good at the beginning of the year."
As the tennis world prepares to bid farewell to one of its most respected champions, all eyes are now on Tennis Australia. The decision on whether to grant Stan Wawrinka a final bow on the iconic Rod Laver Arena, where he once lifted the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, remains pending.
