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Stan Wawrinka may have just been handed his best chance of winning a tournament in farewell season

Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP via Getty Images
Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP via Getty Images
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Stan Wawrinka is on his final trip around the ATP Tour, having announced he will retire at the end of the 2026 season.

The Swiss legend has appeared at seven events so far this year, recording six wins and ten losses.

Wawrinka kicked off his swansong campaign at the United Cup before enjoying a third-round finish at the Australian Open.

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Since then, however, he has suffered early exits in Montpellier, Rotterdam, Dubai, Naples and most recently, Monte-Carlo.

Despite the recent losses, Wawrinka has now been given a favourable draw at the upcoming Barcelona Open.

Stan Wawrinka sits down after losing to Sebastian Baez at the 2026 Monte Carlo Masters.
Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP via Getty Images

Stan Wawrinka’s draw at the 2026 Barcelona Open

Wawrinka, who has been granted a wildcard in Barcelona, will take on seventh seed Cameron Norrie in the opening round.

Against Norrie, Wawrinka is unbeaten, having won both of their meetings on the ATP Tour at the 2018 Queen’s Club championships and the 2023 Davis Cup.

Should he advance past the Briton, Wawrinka will go toe-to-toe with either a qualifier or Reilly Opelka in the second round.

Wawrinka is 1-1 against Opelka, but won their most recent clash, which came at the 2022 Italian Open on clay.

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His most likely quarterfinal opponent is Karen Khachanov, against whom he is tied in the head-to-head 2-2.

The highest seed on Wawrinka’s half of the draw is Lorenzo Musetti, which will be a very difficult assignment.

In their most recent match in Athens last year, however, Wawrinka gave Musetti a run for his money, forcing the Italian to three sets.

If Wawrinka makes the final, he will more than likely be faced with Carlos Alcaraz, whom he has never faced before.

Alcaraz will of course be the favourite, but the unknown element between the two may give Wawrinka an edge.