Stan Wawrinka Ends Grand Slam Career in 7-6, 7-6, 6-0 Loss to Matteo Berrettini

Matteo Berrettini eliminated 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka from the US Open on Monday with a straight-set victory in New York.

Matteo Berrettini defeated Stan Wawrinka 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-0 on Monday at the US Open, officially ending the Swiss veteran's Grand Slam career. The 2016 champion, competing at age 41, exited the tournament in New York following two competitive tiebreakers and a final set where he failed to win a game. Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon finalist, secured a break of serve to open the third set and maintained momentum to finish the match in three sets. This result mirrors a previous meeting at Wimbledon where Berrettini also won a match defined by multiple tiebreakers.

Wild Card Entry and Tournament Return

Wawrinka’s 18th appearance at Flushing Meadows was confirmed only after a late change to the entry list. The U.S. Tennis Association initially awarded the final men’s singles wild card to American Patrick Kypson, who holds a world ranking of No. 115. Believing he would not receive a spot in the main draw, Wawrinka traveled back to Switzerland last Monday. However, Kypson withdrew from the event due to an injury, prompting officials to grant the wild card to Wawrinka on Wednesday. The three-time major champion immediately returned to New York to compete in what he designated as his final professional season.

Video Review Controversy and Third Set Momentum

A pivotal moment occurred during the third set when a video review was initiated to determine if Wawrinka made contact with a volley twice. Despite a lengthy protest from Berrettini, the review confirmed the shot was legal, awarding the point to Wawrinka. The New York crowd booed Berrettini during the deliberation, though the two players shared a laugh and stood arm-in-arm while waiting for the decision. Despite winning that specific point, Wawrinka could not prevent Berrettini from pulling away in the final frame, as the Italian quickly capitalized on a break of serve to dominate the 6-0 set.

Legacy of the 2016 Champion

Wawrinka reached a career-high ranking of No. 3 and captured three different Grand Slam titles during his career. His victory in Flushing Meadows occurred 10 years ago when he defeated Novak Djokovic in the final. In addition to his New York title, he earned championships at the Australian Open and the French Open. Following the match, U.S. Tennis Association officials honored him on the court. Wawrinka expressed his affection for the sport, stating he would miss the game "big time" after finding a way to play his best tennis in New York over the years.

Berrettini Advances to Face Navone

Berrettini showed respect for his opponent after the final point, clapping his hand against his racket and pointing it toward Wawrinka. The Italian, a 2019 US Open semifinalist, described Wawrinka as a legend of the sport. Berrettini now moves into the next round to face Mariano Navone. Navone advanced to this stage following an upset victory over the fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic on Sunday night. The match concluded at 7:20 PM ET on August 31, 2026, marking the conclusion of Wawrinka's tenure in major tournament competition.