Stan Wawrinka returns to the ATP Tour this week after accepting a wildcard into the Monte Carlo Masters.
Playing his last season in professional tennis, Wawrinka starts in the first round of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
The Swiss veteran enters the iconic tournament with a 6-8 win-loss record for 2026, having just turned 41 at the end of March.
His fellow icons Gael Monfils and Matteo Berrettini have also received Monte Carlo Masters wildcards, along with French youngster Moise Kouame.
Wawrinka’s wildcard comes after he decided against requesting wildcards for both Indian Wells and the Miami Open, a decision that he has now explained.
Will Carlos Alcaraz bounce back by winning the Monte Carlo Masters?
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Stan Wawrinka didn’t want to travel to Indian Wells
Speaking ahead of his opener in Monaco, Wawrinka said of missing the two ATP Masters 1000 events in the United States: “I didn’t want to go that far.
“Travelling is not easy after more than 20 years on tour.
“I felt that if I wanted to play the full year and still be physically and mentally fit, it was better not to take that trip.”
It should prove to be a very wise move from Wawrinka, who did incidentally compete in a Challenger in Napoli in late March.
Given his age, looking after his body should be the priority, while he has more than earned the right to do what he wants at this stage of his career.
Stan Wawrinka handed brutal Monte Carlo Masters draw
Wawrinka’s glittering career involves 16 ATP titles, three of which have arrived at Grand Slams, while he’s also lost a major final.
Plenty of that success has come on clay, where the legendary figure boasts seven titles, including the 2015 French Open.
But further ATP success won’t come easy at the Monte Carlo Masters, where he starts out against Sebastian Baez.
| Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
| Win | 2014 | Australian Open | Hard | Rafael Nadal | 6–3, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 |
| Win | 2015 | French Open | Clay | Novak Djokovic | 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 2016 | US Open | Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6–7(1–7), 6–4, 7–5, 6–3 |
| Loss | 2017 | French Open | Clay | Rafael Nadal | 2–6, 3–6, 1–6 |
And the winner of that match has the honor of trying to upset the top seed, current world number one and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Should Wawrinka pull off a miracle against the Spaniard, he could meet Frances Tiafoe or Grigor Dimitrov in the round of 16.
Jiri Lehecka and Alexander Bublik represent possible quarterfinal opponents, with Lorenzo Musetti and Alex de Minaur possible semifinal clashes.
And should the 41-year-old shock everyone by reaching the final, he could be tasked with going head-to-head with Jannik Sinner.
There is, at least, one silver lining from his formidable draw, with Wawrinka potentially finally getting his wish of playing against Alcaraz before he retires.
And another arrives in the form of a potential Monte Carlo quarterfinal, where close friends Wawrinka and Monfils could meet.
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