Add The New York Post on Google Stan Wawrinka will grace the courts of Flushing Meadows at least one more time.
The 41-year-old’s retirement tour took a handful of twists this week, and he is now receiving a wild card to play in his final U.S. Open.
It was first reported over the weekend that he was not on the list of wild cards to participate in the tournament that starts Sunday.
It was a shocking bit of news as the Grand Slams usually favor the best storylines for their wild-card selections, and the former U.S. Open champ’s farewell matches in Queens seemed like a no-brainer.
That prompted Wawrinka to post a heartfelt goodbye to the event he won in 2016, outdueling Novak Djokovic in an entertaining four-set matchup.
“When I first arrived in New York from a small farming village in Switzerland, everything felt too bigThe city. The noise.The energy,” Wawrinka posted on social media. “The crowds. The lights💥. 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 🙏🏻💭🗽
“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🗽”
Now, New York will get a chance to repay that love.
Wawrinka’s fortunes changed when American Patrick Kypson withdrew from the event and allowed U.S. Open organizers to offer him a spot.
Wawrinka participated in the first three Grand Slams of the season, reaching the third round in Australia before opening-round exits at the French Open and Wimbledon.
The Swiss native spent his prime battling Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer — the sport’s Big Three that likely kept him from more Grand Slam glory. Still, Wawrinka has three to his name coming between 2014-16 — with triumphs in Melbourne and Paris to go along with Queens.
Now, Wawrinka will get one more chance at an unlikely run.
He will find out his opponent Thursday when the U.S. Open does its draw.
