WTA icon and 7-time slam champion Venus Williams already made her US Open return in singles. After two years away, the veteran, now 45, stepped back on the hard courts of her home slam thanks to a wild card invitation. But here’s the paradox on the ATP side! Three-time Grand Slam champion and former US Open winner Stanislas Wawrinka, aged 40, missed out on the event this season. But wait, it seems he is back in the mix again.

For those who missed it, the US Open confirmed this year’s wild card entries by mid-August 2025. The eight names on the list were Brandon Holt, Nishesh Basavareddy, Tristan Boyer, Emilio Nava, Stefan Dostanic, Darwin Blanch, Valentin Royer, and Tristan Schoolkate. And to many people’s surprise, Stanislas Wawrinka (who received a wild card last year) was nowhere to be found. Although the Swiss star is past his prime, his grit and determination remain as sharp as ever. And maybe that’s one of the reasons why his name has now appeared on the wildcard list for the Shanghai Open, scheduled to kick off on October 1, 2025. And he’s beyond happy to get the invitation, as per his latest message.

Stanislas Wawrinka embraces the uncertainty of what’s next

On Tuesday, the Rolex Shanghai Masters took to X to share a clip of the Olympic gold medalist in men’s doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, captioning it, “We can’t wait to see you back in Shanghai, @stanwawrinka 🫶 #RolexShanghaiMasters.”

In the video, Stanislas Wawrinka expressed both his happiness and excitement about returning to the Shanghai Open. “Hi everybody, I am so happy to announce that I am receiving a wild card to play the Shanghai Open,” he began. He then added, “I am really grateful to have the opportunity to play again in China. Thanks so much for the tournament, and looking forward to seeing you all there.”

This marks Stanislas Wawrinka’s 12th wildcard entry at an ATP event. Despite his sporadic appearances on tour, the former World No.3 (one of four wildcard recipients in Shanghai) remains a guaranteed crowd-puller whenever he steps onto the court. Alongside him, a group of local favorites has also been granted entry, with Chinese stars Juncheng Shang, Yibing Wu, Zhizhen Zhang, and Yi Zhou all receiving wildcards into the main draw of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

Moreover, the veteran has often relied on wildcard invitations in recent years as he continues competing from outside the top 100, currently ranked No.146. Earlier this season, he was awarded wildcards to both the Australian Open and the French Open. So why did the US Open organizers refrain from extending the same opportunity? While there has been no official explanation, fans on social media have been quick to share their own, sometimes wild, theories.

Stanislas Wawrinka’s US Open Snub Sparks Talk of Jannik Sinner Connection

To understand the context, we need to go back a few months. In early February, World No.1 Jannik Sinner accepted a three-month suspension after a controversial doping case. WADA initially wanted the matter to go before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but Sinner agreed to a 90-day ban, which closed the case. The agency explained that he tested positive for clostebol, a banned substance, in March 2024.

WADA also clarified that Sinner had no intention to cheat and that the substance provided no performance benefit. They stated his exposure happened without his knowledge due to negligence from his entourage. Still, under the rules, the athlete is held responsible, which meant Sinner had to serve the suspension.

The outcome drew heavy criticism across the tennis world. Nick Kyrgios, Rennae Stubbs, and Tim Henman were among those who voiced their opinions. Stanislas Wawrinka also reacted strongly, writing on X, “I don’t believe in a clean sport anymore …”

Fast forward to last month, and fans on social media have started connecting the dots. Many believe Stanislas Wawrinka was denied a US Open wildcard because of his harsh reaction to Sinner’s case. So far, these speculations remain unconfirmed. And with Stanislas Wawrinka now receiving a wildcard in Shanghai, how do you see the situation? Was the US Open’s decision purely logistical, or could his past remarks have played a part?