The Australian Open have officially confirmed all of their wildcards for the men’s and women’s singles events, thus rounding off both draws as we await the conclusion of qualifying.
However, the drama associated with the wildcards and the speculation that has surrounded them over the past month has drawn huge scrutiny.
After all, many argue that the sheer nature of the wildcard is anti-competitive, particularly with regard to the reciprocal deal between various majors.
One such pundit recently took to The Tennis Podcast to properly voice this grievance, using Stan Wawrinka’s potential inclusion as one such example.
Australian Open slammed for wildcard drama
Whilst Wawrinka has since been given an Australian Open wildcard, Catherine Whitaker’s argument still rings true.
She claimed: “But what I hear is that he’s asked for a wild card to the Australian Open, where he won the title in 2014. He’ll need one if he’s going to play in what he’s announced is his last year on tour, so it’s his last chance to play a farewell Australian Open.
If you were in charge of tennis, what is the first rule you would change?
“And my understanding is he’s not first in line to receive one. He might receive one, but it depends on whether other sensations that are ahead of him in the pecking order are able to get ranking up off this week to get direct entry.
“I’m a bit torn about how incensed to be about this, because it’s very complicated for me.”
Whitaker was not finished there, using this as a springboard for her wider frustration: “Ultimately, my umbrella opinion is that this just exposes how ludicrous the concept of wildcards is and how anti competitive and how institutionalised we all are about what is actually a really, at best silly, and at worst, well, anti-competitive, but also sort of it extra privileges Grand Slam nations to an extent that I think is completely unnecessary and unhelpful.
“And I think, you know, the bigger take from this should be, wow, this has really exposed how stupid wildcards are, let’s get rid of them.
“But my other take is, okay, well, obviously, no one’s with me in that movement. So I accept that we’re going to have wild cards, and if we’re going to have wild cards, you have to give them to former champions.
“If you’re a former champion at an event and you’re still competitive, which is proven that he is, you should be getting a wildcard.”
Stan Wawrinka deserves his spot at the Australian Open
Fortunately for Whitaker, Wawrinka has since been gifted one final chance to feature at the Australian Open, in what he has already announced will be his last year on tour.
And this is exactly what wildcards should be for.
The Swiss superstar is one of tennis’ modern-day icons, having battled through one of the most arduous periods in the sport’s history.
He won three Grand Slam titles during an era boasting Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, highlighting a level of quality and hard work that deserves so much credit.
What is your best memory of Stan Wawrinka?
And, given his recent performances at the United Cup, Wawrinka is still more than competitive at the top level.
It will be a joy to see the 40-year-old take to the courts in Melbourne for one last time, at the site of his first-ever major triumph.
