Stan Wawrinka's Emotional Farewell at the US Open

Stan Wawrinka’s last US Open swing ended in defeat, but it felt nothing like a loss.

On a packed Grandstand court, 8,000 fans rose to their feet for a man who has spent two decades punching holes in the sport’s hierarchy. At 41, the three-time major champion walked off a Grand Slam stage for the final time, beaten in straight sets by Matteo Berrettini, but carried out on a wave of sound.

He looked close to tears. The crowd didn’t let him hide it.

A wildcard, and a second flight

This farewell almost never happened.

Initially, US Open organisers left Wawrinka off the wildcard list. For a former champion, a man who lifted the trophy here in 2016, it felt like a jarring omission. Then came a twist: American Patrick Kypson withdrew, a spot opened up, and the call finally went out.

By then, Wawrinka had already gone home.

He was back in the Swiss mountains on Wednesday, having left New York just two days earlier, when he learned he had been granted the wildcard he so clearly wanted. He turned around, crossed the Atlantic again, and came back for one last dance at Flushing Meadows.

The decision proved inspired. Fans queued early, snaking around the grounds to secure a seat in Grandstand, knowing this might be the final time they saw that trademark one‑handed backhand in a major.

Chances missed, ovation earned

On court, the old fire was still there.

Against the 2021 Wimbledon finalist Berrettini, Wawrinka carved out set points in each of the first two sets—one in the opener, three more in the second. The timing, the ball-striking, the competitive instinct that defined his peak all flickered into view.

Berrettini refused to yield. He saved every set point, tightened his grip, and then raced through the third set as the 41‑year‑old’s resistance finally ebbed.

Scorelines, though, felt secondary. The moment belonged to something else.

As the last ball was struck, Berrettini led the applause, stepping back to let the arena turn towards Wawrinka. The Swiss made heart signs with his fingers, then pressed his hand to his chest, a simple gesture that said more than any speech.

The cheers only grew louder. He urged them on, asking for more noise, then began knocking balls high into the stands—small souvenirs from a big goodbye.

A champion’s reflection

Wawrinka has always been defined by effort as much as elegance. The backhand drew the posters and the slow‑motion replays; the grit kept him in the company of giants.

“One of the reasons I played until 41 was to live these moments,” he told the crowd, reminding them he is not just a former US Open winner, but also the 2014 Australian Open and 2015 French Open champion.

He spoke of gratitude—for the wildcard, for the chance to finish his Grand Slam story where he had once stunned the field a decade earlier, for the fans who had followed him through surgeries, comebacks, and late‑career pushes.

“It was very important for me to finish here, where I won a Grand Slam 10 years ago. I want to thank you all for all these years,” he said, the arena hanging on every word.

Later, he described himself as “super grateful” for the send-off. It was, in many ways, confirmation of what his career had always represented.

“It’s showed me that I did the right thing all those 20 years by always trying to fight, always showing up, always trying to do my best, and always trying to push myself to the limits,” he said. “This is what for me was the most important thing – what I get from the fans when I play.”

A final image

Before he left, tournament chief executive Craig Tiley presented Wawrinka with a photo montage of his 2016 US Open triumph—a visual reminder of the night he conquered New York.

This time, there was no trophy, no lap of honour with silverware raised high. Just a veteran, his racquet, and an arena that refused to let go.

For a player who built a Hall of Fame career on defying expectations, it felt fitting that his last major act came only after a late wildcard, a changed flight, and one more fight.

The season will still give him a few more steps before retirement. But in Grand Slam terms, this was the closing scene: Stan Wawrinka, bathed in New York noise, leaving the stage on his own terms.