The 41-year-old Swiss was initially bypassed for direct entry, in a decision that drew criticism given his Flushing Meadows success. However, following an injury-forced withdrawal from American wild card Patrick Kypson on Wednesday, 2016 US Open champion Wawrinka has been afforded a return.
“I am really excited to accept the wild card and give myself one more chance to compete here at the US Open again. It’s the last time for me in New York in a big atmosphere, but here in the city where I had a chance to win my first Grand Slam in 2016,” said the 2015 Roland Garros winner, Wawrinka, who is planning to retire later this year.
A day prior, the three-time Grand Slam champion spoke about his fondness for the final Grand Slam event of the year and wrote a touching tribute about the one and only time he played at this stage for a Grand Slam event during Novak Djokovic’s era. ” Winning against Djokovic here in 2016 has been one of the most exciting days of my life… It meant the world to me,” he also posted.
The Swiss star also won the 2014 Australian Open, the 2015 Roland Garros, and still holds the record for the most title wins at two of those Grand Slams with 3.
This marks his 18th appearance here after his first Main Draw debut 20 years ago, when making his first-ever Grand Slam outing at his favored tennis tournament, and it will be one last swansong for the 2016 winner here as August 30, the date the tournament commences.
