US OPEN

August 31, 2026

Stan Wawrinka

Press Conference

M. BERRETTINI/S. Wawrinka

7-6, 7-6, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, Stan is with us. First of all, congratulations on a Hall of Fame career. Just outstanding. What more can you say? Questions for Stan.

Q. So glad you were able to make it here to play. That was an incredible atmosphere out there. It was so hard to even get inside to see the match. How did it feel for you, and what are your reflections on your final experience here in New York?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, it was, again, amazing atmosphere, that's for sure. That's for me the most important is one more opportunity to play in this tournament. Of course, I was super happy to receive the wild card to come here.

For me it was -- in general, to cover the match, it was a good level for two sets. I had many opportunities first and second. I couldn't take them. It's, of course, always more and more difficult when you win less and less match to get the confidence to finish those sets, so it was a bit difficult.

But I think the level during two sets was really high, and the atmosphere, of course, and the support was really special. Knowing that it was my last time here, it's never easy, that's for sure, especially when you love something so much and you enjoy it so much.

All the time to get to that level for me it was important. I was happy with the level, in general. I was super grateful with the support I received tonight.

Q. You and Novak made your US Open debut in the same year, 2005, the main draw. Did you see his match last night and if you would share if you had a reaction to that? That was quite a poignant moment.

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, I watched the match, of course. It was, of course, a tough match. Of course, I think Navone is always a tough player to play, especially in those conditions, especially here. We saw it, and he can really make it difficult.

Novak, of course, we all saw he was struggling physically. We don't know exactly what, so of course, it was not easy.

I think in general if you look at the year he's having, in Grand Slam he is making finals, semifinals. So it was as the first time in his first round here, so of course, it was tough for him. But I think as long as he's playing, he knows he's going to be really dangerous.

Q. You talked on court about your qualifying here the first time and really liking the energy of New York. I'm just curious, all the slams are different and they all have their own vibes, but what to you is the definition, or what has the New York experience been like for you, and how did you finally get to conquer it and become a champion here?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, New York is a really special city, of course. It became one of my favorite city by far really to come here, to spend time. I have many friends here.

It's the city that never sleeps, or in the city there is always a lot of thing happening. You need to always find the right balance between enjoying the city and being ready for the tennis.

I think here the US Open is always amazing atmosphere. You can feel the support. You can feel the way in America they love the sport. They like to make a show around that, and as a player, it's always enjoyable.

Q. Stan, have you seen some highlights of the Hall of Fame ceremony with Roger, and do you wish to be in the same place in the future?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, yeah, of course, of course (smiling). Of course, I watched some highlights a lot. I think it was unbelievable how it should be for him. I think it was really, really special to watch.

He did so much for the sport, so much for the tennis. Not only inside the tennis, but everything around. So it was really, really amazing to watch that.

Q. And for you?

STAN WAWRINKA: I absolutely don't decide for that, but you know, I'm finishing this year playing. It's my last year. I'm trying to do the right thing to finish in the best way possible, so that for me has always been the most important.

Q. Stan, obviously many years from now people will look back and see that you won three slams, and that will be a very large part of your legacy. What do you want people to think about you, to remember about the way you played?

STAN WAWRINKA: I think I never -- see, that's why I never try to do things for people to remember me in a way or different way for me.

For me, the only thing I can see this year on my last year when I announce it is the love I receive in every single match I played and every tournament I play. So I feel super grateful with that.

It's also showing me that maybe I did the right thing all those 20 years by always try to give, always try to fight, always showing up, always trying to do my best, always trying to push my own limits in the sport.

This is what for me was the most important, is what I get from the fans when I play.

Q. Thank you for your wonderful play over the years. Your match here against Kei Nishikori in 2014 and 2016, I'd like you to talk about your memories with Kei.

STAN WAWRINKA: He was amazing player, shotmaker, but amazing guy also. We played the game for 15 years on tour together. We practiced so many times. I think those two matches were really high level.

In '14, that's when he beat me in five sets, and I beat him in '16 in four sets in semifinal. I think he's always been a super difficult and challenging player to play. He read the game. He moved really fast, and he used your speed, so it was always a tough challenge to play against him.

Q. I'm from Chile. You played Nicholas Massu 21 years ago here in the US Open in 2005, I think. What do you remember about playing with Nicolas Massu? He was the Olympic champion just the year before. What do you remember?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, it was the beginning of my career. He was already there, top 10. Like you say, he won the gold medal in Olympic. He was really a tough player to play, tough challenge. Always a tough challenge.

Those players that when I arrive on tour, they were at the top, there were top 15, top 10. Same with Fernando González. I had more problem to play against him. It was always difficult, but they were fighter.

I remember also for me, it was always the fans. They were always there, always present. A lot of support.

You knew that when you play against them, you had a great energy. It doesn't matter what time, if you play at 1:00 a.m. or in the morning or during the day, it was always special to play against them because of the fans. They make it really nice.

Q. I'm curious thinking back to when you won the title here ten years ago, since then how have you changed as a person, and has the way you think about the game of tennis changed at all in that time?

STAN WAWRINKA: I think it's just the evolution of life in a career, in a long career. It's been ten years.

Of course, you see the game a little bit differently. You also play differently, because sometimes your body doesn't allow you to play the same way you wanted to play. I think also the condition became a bit different.

It's just the normal evolution of ten years in a sport that's one of the toughest sports to play in the world. So for me, all my career, all those 20, 22 years, 25 years I always tried to find the best way possible to play my best level with the evolution of the game, with the evolution of the opponents you're going to play and the player and the tournaments.

It's always the focus on that is about how can you improve with where you are at today?