{"id":95383,"date":"2026-01-08T22:37:43","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T03:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=95383"},"modified":"2026-01-08T22:37:43","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T03:37:43","slug":"veteran-stan-wawrinka-leads-final-australian-open-wild-cards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2026\/01\/08\/veteran-stan-wawrinka-leads-final-australian-open-wild-cards\/","title":{"rendered":"Veteran Stan Wawrinka Leads Final Australian Open Wild Cards"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former champion Stan Wawrinka, along with Australians Jordan Thompson and Chris O\u2019Connell, have secured their spot in the main draw for men\u2019s singles at the 2026 Australian Open<\/a> after being granted wild cards.<\/p>\n

The last three wild cards for the men\u2019s event, which kicks off on Sunday, January 18, at Melbourne Park, have been awarded to this trio.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> on tour in remarkable style.<\/p>\n

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>, a milestone he has achieved at the other three Grand Slam tournaments.<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>