Former champion Stan Wawrinka, along with Australians Jordan Thompson and Chris O’Connell, have secured their spot in the main draw for men’s singles at the 2026 Australian Open after being granted wild cards.
The last three wild cards for the men’s event, which kicks off on Sunday, January 18, at Melbourne Park, have been awarded to this trio.
Wawrinka clinched the first of his three Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open in 2014, a year in which he attained a peak ranking of world No.3. He also reached the semifinals at Melbourne in 2015 and 2017, as well as making it to the quarterfinals in 2020.
Known for his powerful one-handed backhand, the Swiss player is still thriving on the Tour at 40, having helped Switzerland reach the United Cup semifinals in Sydney. During the group stages in Perth, he defeated the 29th-ranked Arthur Rinderknech and challenged world No.22 Flavio Cobolli to a third-set tiebreak, to begin what he has announced will be his final season on tour in remarkable style.
Thompson, on the other hand, made his debut in the Australian Open main draw in the same year that Wawrinka won and continues to work his way back from injuries. Currently ranked 113th, Thompson hopes to advance to the third round for the first time at Melbourne Park, a milestone he has achieved at the other three Grand Slam tournaments.
O’Connell has faced a similar journey, having dropped outside the Top 100 after starting 2025 ranked #64 due to injuries. The Sydneysider ended his season early in October but made a promising return at the Brisbane International earlier this month, just missing out on a place in the main draw.
The 2026 Australian Open will be O’Connell’s eighth time competing in the AO main draw, where his best achievement was reaching the third round in 2022.
With the inclusion of Thompson and O’Connell, there will now be 18 Australians competing in the men’s and women’s singles main draws.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
