Former U.S. Open Champ Gets Last-Minute Wild Card After Fan Outcry
The 2016 champion was left off the initial list of wild card entries in his farewell season, reigniting fierce debate over which players get the nod — and wh...
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NEW YORK, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Swiss Stan Wawrinka has been handed a wild card entry to the U.S. Open men's singles draw, organizers said on Wednesday, after several days of outcry from fans over his exclusion.
The 2016 champion was left off the initial list of wild card entries in his farewell season, reigniting fierce debate over which players get the nod — and which are left out — in the wild card process at the majors.
Wawrinka posted an emotional farewell to the tournament on social media on Tuesday , seemingly closing the door on any hope of his competing in the year's final major after participating in the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon this year on wild cards.
"I'm incredibly excited to accept the wild card for the 2026 US Open and look forward to competing in front of the fans in New York once again," he said in a statement.
The 41-year-old former world number three won at Roland Garros in 2015 and the Australian Open in 2014.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Ed Osmond)
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