Dec 13 , (V7N) - Stan Wawrinka, the three-time Grand Slam champion, was awarded a wildcard for the 2025 Australian Open, nearly two decades after he first played in the tournament. The 39-year-old Swiss won his first Grand Slam at Melbourne Park in 2014, defeating Rafael Nadal, and went on to capture titles at Roland Garros (2015) and the US Open (2016).

Wawrinka, who has battled injuries in recent years and seen his rankings drop, expressed his gratitude, saying, "Melbourne holds such a special place in my heart." He added that winning his first Grand Slam there was one of the greatest milestones of his career.

In addition to Wawrinka, eight Australian players, including Daria Saville and Ajla Tomljanovic, received wildcards. Chinese veteran Zhang Shuai and Thailand's Kasidit Samrej were granted main draw wildcards after winning the Asia-Pacific playoff. The 2025 Australian Open will take place from January 12-26.

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