Former champion Stan Wawrinka withdraws from the US Open. Is Roger Federer next?

• Tennis News
• ATP Tennis

As was expected, the 2016 US Open champion Stan Wawrinka will not compete in New York this year, still struggling with a foot injury. Wawrinka claimed three Major titles in consecutive seasons between 2014 and 2016, beating all the top-ranked players en route to tennis immortals.

Stan became world no. 3 after the Australian Open 2014 and stayed inside the top-10 for almost five years between 2013 and 2018. The Swiss lost that pace in 2017 after a knee injury, undergoing two surgeries in August and skipping the rest of the season.

Wawrinka claimed the title in Geneva in May that year, and that remains his last ATP trophy, struggling with injuries and never producing his best tennis again. After Roland Garros 2018, Stan dropped out from the top-250 for the first time in 15 years, reaching rock bottom but wishing to get back where he belongs.

The Swiss before founf the form again in 2019 and returned into the top-20, still dreaming about notable titles. Wawrinka secured 15 wins in the plagued 2020 season, and it will be hard for the Lausanne native to repeat that in the current one after constant difficulties with injuries.

Stan underwent left foot surgery in March and required another in June, taking more time off the court and making no return plans.

Stan Wawrinka underwent two foot surgeries within three months.

The Swiss has won only three matches so far in 2021 but stayed around the 30th spot on the ATP ranking list thanks to his results from the previous two seasons.

Stan gave Jeremy Chardy a walkover in Melbourne 2 event ahead of the Australian Open in February. After a massive battle, he suffered a tight loss to Marton Fucsovics in the deciding tie break in Melbourne. Fucsovics prevailed 7-5, 6-1, 4-6, 2-6, 7-6 in three hours and 59 minutes, fending off three match points in the deciding tie break to send Wawrinka packing.

Stan lost in the Rotterdam first round to Karen Khachanov and suffered a heavy loss to Lloyd Harris in three tight sets in Doha in his last match on the Tour so far. The 36-year-old Wawrinka is still eager to extend his career, although he understands how tough it is to return after extended pauses at his age.

The other great Swiss, Roger Federer, is also under the dark clouds ahead of the season's last Major, struggling with a knee injury and skipping Toronto and Cincinnati.