Stan Wawrinka will have to play qualifying if he wants to make the Madrid Open main draw this year.
Wawrinka is retiring from tennis this year, bringing an end to his 24-year career on the ATP Tour.
As a result of this being his last season on tour, world number 104 Wawrinka has received wildcards to five tournaments this year, most recently at the Monte Carlo Masters.
However, the Madrid Open has decided not to give Wawrinka a wildcard this year, opting for five other players instead.
Stan Wawrinka will have to play qualifying at the Madrid Open after wildcards announced
The Madrid Open has links to IMG, who were the owners of the tournament until selling to MARI last year, the company that represents many tennis players.
As a result, instead of the majority of wildcards going to local players like other tournaments, the Madrid Open often gives them to IMG players instead.
That is no different this year, with wildcards in the men’s singles draw being awarded to Pablo Carreno Busta, Federico Cina, Rafael Jodar, Martin Landaluce and Gael Monfils, the latter of whom is also retiring this year.
Wawrinka is entered into the Madrid Open, but he will have to play qualifying as the 16th alternate into the tournament.
However, the three-time Grand Slam champion may not even play the tournament, with Wawrinka suggesting he may skip the Madrid Open after his exit from the Monte Carlo Masters.
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Even fewer Spanish players have been given wildcards for the women’s singles draw, with Paula Badosa and Carlota Martinez Cirez the only two.
Other wildcards for the WTA main draw at the Madrid Open have been awarded to Venus Williams, Ajla Tomljanovic, Ashlyn Krueger, Emiliana Arango, Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva and Robin Montgomery.
What is Stan Wawrinka’s best result at the Madrid Open?
While Wawrinka is not a former champion at the Madrid Open, he has achieved success at the tournament before.
The former world number three has made 13 appearances at the tournament, with Wawrinka’s best result coming in 2013, when he reached the final before losing to Rafael Nadal.
However, Wawrinka has not even played a single match at the Madrid Open since 2023, when he lost in the second round.
| Year | Stan Wawrinka’s best result at the Madrid Open |
| 2007 | First Round |
| 2008 | Third Round |
| 2009 | Third Round |
| 2010 | Third Round |
| 2011 | First Round |
| 2012 | Third Round |
| 2013 | Final |
| 2014 | Second Round |
| 2015 | Third Round |
| 2016 | Second Round |
| 2017 | Second Round |
| 2019 | Quarterfinal |
| 2023 | Second Round |
Wawrinka did not want a wildcard for Indian Wells or the Miami Open for travel reasons, but it is currently unclear as to whether he requested one for the Madrid Open.
What is certain is that Wawrinka’s next tournament will be the Barcelona Open, as he has received a wildcard for the ATP 500 tournament.
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