US OPEN

August 29, 2026

Stan Wawrinka

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Stan is here. Welcome. Congratulations on just a tremendous career.

Questions in English.

Q. Stan, as you think about the end of the career, what do you remember most from winning the US Open?

STAN WAWRINKA: The final, the day of the final, the excitement of playing here. I think the match, the energy, the people, the fans, for me. I watch so many final of US Open before that, so of course to have the opportunity at 31 to play that final against Novak, it was really special.

Q. Then now, as you consider the opportunity that you've been given, what are your emotions?

STAN WAWRINKA: Right now, they're really good. Super happy to be here, super grateful with the wildcard. For me, it's my last year. It's my last Grand Slam of my career, so of course it's going to be special when I'm gonna play the match. That's for sure. I'm going to feel it. That's a no-brainer.

But I'm super excited. I'm happy. I'm enjoying the fact that I have this opportunity to be here one last time. To play that last year for me, it's of course special, but to be able to play those four Grand Slams it was important, and I'm really enjoying it.

Q. Congratulations on a great career. It's been 10 years since winning here. You talked about how much you remember that final. How did it compare to, like, your other two Grand Slam victories? I know this one you had saved a match point in the third round. But yeah, what made this one special?

STAN WAWRINKA: I think every victory going to be special anywhere, especially in Grand Slam. I think New York, it's one of my favorite city by far. Really always enjoy to be here, to have the chance. I have many friends here, I love the city, I love the energy.

I think the US Open is something really special as a tennis player, from the first one to those three weeks, you see the support, you see the fans. I've been here for more than 20 years. I've played on every court, even the small one, practice court. There is always a lot of support, a lot of fans. I have always been enjoying that.

Q. What is the last week or so just kind of been like for you, learning you weren't going to get the wildcard, and then obviously the change of plans? How were those emotions? How did you actually find out you were going to get the wildcard?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, it was a bit of roller coaster, of course, because I came back home Monday night from New York. So for me, it was in my mind the end of my Grand Slam career. I would have loved to, like I said, I would have loved to be here. So I had to accept those emotion by not having the wildcard, and I was okay with that.

At the end of the day I always say that the only way to be sure to play a tournament, you have to be the right ranking. And I knew I wasn't on the list directly, so I was hoping for a wildcard, but I also know that wildcard are not granted. So it was not a problem for me not to have it. I was just sad not to be able to say good-bye to New York and to the US Open.

I got the call I think Wednesday night or Wednesday afternoon when I was in the Swiss mountains. So of course I was happy, and I had to quickly organize to be back here.

Q. Once again, congratulations on your career. Speaking of the last Grand Slam, Kei Nishikori, he just finished his last Grand Slam here yesterday. Of course you played with him many times here. Can you share some of your memory with Kei?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, amazing, amazing player, amazing fighter. We played some big match over the years, especially here also, two times, in '16 semifinal and also in '14 when he beat me in quarterfinal. I think he was always a tough competitor to play, fast player, a shotmaker, super-nice guy off the court. We've been practicing for more than 15 years on the tour many times, many years.

Yeah, he did amazing career.

Q. You were involved in a serious battle with Matteo Berrettini at Wimbledon. How did you feel when you saw that you had been drawn against him here again here?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, it was interesting. Very interesting rematch, of course. Wimbledon was a tough battle. Was great match. I think we both played well. More than four hours, four tiebreaks, so it was really special, Court 1.

At the end, he's a really tough player to play. He's a great guy. He's good friend also, so it's going to be special to play him again here.

Q. Congratulations on your career. I'm just wondering, from your perspective now that you're looking towards the end, all of your accomplishments over the last 20 years or so, as you said, are there things you wish you knew at the beginning of your career that you would tell your younger self now? Any thoughts that you have overall on the progress of the men's game.

STAN WAWRINKA: No, I think for me, when I start playing, when I dream about being a professional tennis player, being top 100, being this opportunity, my main goal was to observe regret when I will be stopping this game.

I think I did everything possible to be the best version of a tennis player I could. I always push myself all those years, trying to give everything on the court and off the court. So with that, I'm quite in peace with myself.

I know I couldn't do it more. I know I took all the opportunity I had. Of course, I have some small regret. Of course, there is many match I would love to change the score, but at the end, like I say, I think I'm in peace with myself. That's, for me, the most important.

Q. Just on Roger and his Hall of Fame induction, what are your thoughts today as he joins the Hall of Fame?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, I think he deserve it, eh? I think it's a no-brainer (smiling).

He's been leading this game for so many years. He's been an example on and off the court for so many people, so many players, so many fans. Yeah, it's been special for me to share the court with him, off the court also, to play on the same team, Davis Cup, Olympic with him, of course. I'm super grateful for all the opportunity I had with him.

Q. Talking about regrets, did you ever regret signing with your agent?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah. I don't know why I'm still with him (laughter).