Stan 'The Man', One Last Time: Wawrinka Named As Wildcard For 2026 Australian Open

Stan “The Man” Wawrinka is heading back to Melbourne, and this one is going to hit hard.

Tennis Australia have officially awarded the 40-year-old Swiss legend a wildcard for the Australian Open 2026, ensuring one of the sport’s most iconic shot-makers gets a final bow on one of his greatest stages.

Thank youuuuuuu 🙏🏻💙 https://t.co/QW4t6eQ5gI

— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) January 9, 2026

Ranked No. 156 in the world and approaching his 41st birthday, Wawrinka is far removed from his days as a three-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 3.

But this decision was never about numbers. It was about legacy. If this truly is Wawrinka’s farewell season, there was no chance it could begin anywhere other than Melbourne Park.

“This means the

world to me,” Wawrinka said. “To have the chance to play the Australian Open at the beginning of my final year on tour is very special.”

Melbourne holds a unique place in his story. It was here, in 2014, that he shattered Novak Djokovic in a stunning final to claim his first major — a moment that confirmed he was more than just a supporting act in the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era. He went on to repeat the feat against Djokovic at Roland Garros in 2015 and the US Open in 2016, completing one of the most impressive Slam hat-tricks of his generation.

Injuries have taken their toll, and his ranking has slipped into the 150s. But the résumé remains untouchable: 16 ATP titles, 582 tour-level wins, Olympic doubles gold with Roger Federer in 2008, and a key role in Switzerland’s historic 2014 Davis Cup triumph.

Alongside local hopes Jordan Thompson and Chris O’Connell, Wawrinka takes one of the final wildcard spots. Yet make no mistake: all eyes will be on the Swiss veteran, winding up that trademark one-handed backhand one last time.