Navratilova & Evert React as Stan Wawrinka Finally Lands US Open Wildcard

The Snub Heard Around the Tennis World

Stan Wawrinka is a three-time Grand Slam champion, a former US Open titleholder, and 2026 is his farewell season. So when the US Open initially left him off the wildcard list in favor of younger players, tennis fans and legends alike had questions. Now, the tournament has course-corrected — and the reaction has been loud.

What Actually Happened

On August 26, 2026, the US Open awarded Wawrinka a singles main draw wildcard after original recipient Patrick Kypson withdrew due to injury. It's a big deal for a few reasons: Wawrinka announced back in December 2025 that this would be his last professional season, and the US Open is the site of one of his three Grand Slam titles (2016, where he beat Novak Djokovic in the final). Missing his own farewell at a tournament he's won felt, to a lot of people, like an oversight that needed fixing.

The Legends Weighed In

Martina Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam winner, didn't hold back on X: "Well hallelujah!!! Should have gotten it in the first place." Chris Evert kept it short and pointed: "order has been restored." Boris Becker called the decision "Well deserved!" and said the entire tennis community was happy to see Wawrinka get the nod for his final Grand Slam run. Journalist Christopher Clarey summed up the mood as simply "much better late than never."

When three tennis legends with a combined stack of Grand Slam trophies all say the same thing within hours of each other, it tells you the original decision wasn't sitting well with anyone who's actually played the sport at that level.

Why the Wildcard Mattered So Much

Wildcards are typically used to give young, rising players a shot at Grand Slam experience — which is exactly why several went to newer names this year. But for a legend in his retirement season, especially one with a title at that specific tournament, fans argued the moment deserved to be honored differently. Wawrinka brings 16 ATP singles titles and three majors to the table, and for a lot of tennis fans, watching him get a proper send-off matters more than a single wildcard slot for a developing player.

What's Next

With the wildcard secured, Wawrinka gets one more shot at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the site of his 2016 triumph, before he closes out his career. Expect the draw and his potential matchups to become a major storyline once the bracket is released, especially given the emotional weight this run now carries for fans who watched this saga play out in real time.