Four-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka has shared an emotional farewell message to the U.S. Open, stating it would be his last appearance at the New York tournament after he was not awarded a wild card entry.
Wawrinka, who won the U.S. Open in 2016, posted his message on Instagram on Tuesday, marking what is understood to be his final year on the professional tour. He reflected on his early experiences in New York, contrasting them with the tournament's eventual status as one of his favorite places.
"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," Wawrinka wrote in his caption. "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 something out of me that few places ever could. I experienced some of the strongest emotions of my career here. The battles, the late nights, the incredible atmosphere, the love from the crowd…memories that will stay with me forever."
The Swiss player included a carousel of photos in his post, highlighting key moments from his time at the U.S. Open, including his victory over Novak Djokovic in the 2016 final and images with the New York skyline. He concluded his message by thanking the city, the tournament organizers, and the fans for their support over the years.
"Winning the US Open,in the city that never sleeps,will forever be one of the greatest moments of my life. Thank you, New York. Thank you, @usopen. Thank you to every single fan who supported me, pushed me, believed in me and shared all these emotions with me over the years. Forever grateful. Forever New York."
Wawrinka, currently ranked 125th in the world, has had a distinguished career, securing Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open (2014), the French Open (2015), and the U.S. Open (2016). He also reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2015, narrowly missing out on completing a career Grand Slam. His omission of a wild card for the final Grand Slam of his career has drawn some attention, particularly as fellow tour veteran Gael Monfils, also in his final year and ranked lower at 305th, received one despite not holding a Grand Slam title.
Wawrinka has experienced emotional farewells at other tournaments this season. Earlier in the summer, he was visibly moved after his first-round Wimbledon match against Matteo Berrettini, thanking the crowd as he departed the court.