Wawrinka handed Australian Open wildcard in final season

Stan Wawrinka has been handed an Australian Open wildcard as he begins the final season of his career, with Australian Nick Kyrgios missing out.Three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka announced in December that 2026 will be the final season of his trophy-laden career.The 40-year-old former world number three won the first of his three major titles at Melbourne Park."Winning the Australian Open in 2014, my first Grand Slam title, is an absolute career highlight for me, so I'm incredibly grateful to receive this wildcard," said Wawrinka."To have the chance to play the Australian Open at the beginning of my final year on tour means the world to me."Wawrinka is currently ranked 156th in the world and won the most recent of his 16 titles in Geneva in 2017.Former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios said he had chosen not to contest the men's singles competition at his home slam because he does not yet feel ready to play five-set matches.The 30-year-old, who has fallen to 670th in the world after struggling with injuries over recent seasons, will enter the men's doubles competition, having won that event in 2022 alongside compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis."After some good conversations with Tennis Australia I've made the call to focus on doubles for this year's AO," Kyrgios wrote on social media."I'm fit and back on court, but five-setters are a different beast and I'm not quite ready to go the distance yet."This tournament means everything to me, but I'd rather give my spot to someone who's ready to make their moment count."It's all building blocks and I'll be back next year and pumped to compete. See you out there."