Australian Open: former champion Stan Wawrinka, Chinese veteran Zhang Shuai get wild cards
Nine local players also gain entry to season’s first grand slam, where crowd favourites the ‘Special Ks’ will reunite in the doubles
China’s Zhang Shuai and three-time grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka and is among nine players handed wild cards to compete at next month’s Australian Open, tournament organisers announced on Friday.
The 39-year-old Swiss claimed the first of his three major titles at Melbourne Park in 2014, with that triumph over Rafael Nadal earning him a career-high world ranking of No 3.
Local hopes including Ajla Tomljanovic, Daria Saville, Tristan Schoolkate, Li Tu, James McCabe, Emerson Jones, Talia Gibson and Maya Joint were also given wild cards, with more recipients to be announced soon.
Zhang and Kasidit Samrej of Thailand had already been granted main draw wild card entry after winning Asia-Pacific playoffs.
Chinese veteran Zhang beat compatriot Guo Hanyu 7-6, 0-6, 7-5 in the Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wildcard playoff women’s singles final in Chengdu on December 1 to secure her place.
Wawrinka, who first played at the Australian Open almost 20 years ago, also won the French Open in 2015 and the US Open a year later. He crashed out of the opening round of this year’s Australian Open early in 2024.
