Stan Wawrinka is preparing for his final appearance at the Monte Carlo Masters, with his opening match set for tomorrow.
He’s up against Sebastian Baez of Argentina, a tough opener given Baez’s skill on clay. If Wawrinka can get through that first hurdle, he may find himself closer to fulfilling a wish he mentioned not long ago.
Wawrinka’s Wish: A Match Against Alcaraz
Just last week, the veteran spoke about how much he’d enjoy a matchup with Carlos Alcaraz. Wawrinka’s style and experience against Alcaraz’s speed and power would make for an intriguing contrast.
This year marks the end of an era, though. This will be Wawrinka’s last appearance at Monte Carlo, making any potential matchups feel even more meaningful. A clash with Alcaraz could give fans one more reason to celebrate his career before he steps away from the tour.
Reflecting on his plans after being granted a wildcard for Monte Carlo, Wawrinka spoke about his hopes to play the Spaniard before hanging up his racket at the end of 2026.
He told Spazio Tennis: “If I’m honest, I’d like to face Carlos. I’ve played Jannik many times, so I would like to have a different experience.
“We can call it a small dream for this year — it would be exciting to be on the other side of the net against a player like that.”
Potential Alcaraz Clash Looms
The way the Monte Carlo draw has panned out, that opportunity might come sooner rather than later. If Wawrinka gets past Baez, he’ll set up an early meeting with Alcaraz in round two.
Wawrinka has been training with Gael Monfils ahead of Monte Carlo, hoping to prepare for the kind of unpredictable play Alcaraz is known for. Even so, the 22-year-old will have his sights set further down the line, as he aims to retain a title he won comfortably in 2025.
Alcaraz’s Path Through the Tournament
Alcaraz will skip the first round thanks to a bye and is scheduled to meet either Baez or Wawrinka in his opening match. The third round could see him up against Frances Tiafoe, followed by a potential quarter-final clash with either Jiri Lehecka – who recently reached the Miami final – or Alexander Bublik.
A semi-final meeting with Lorenzo Musetti is on the cards, setting up a repeat of last year’s final. And if things go according to plan for both players, we might see another showdown with Sinner in what would be an eagerly anticipated rematch.
Wawrinka has had some memorable matches in Monte Carlo over the years and even won the tournament back in 2014.
This will be Wawrinka’s last appearance at Monte Carlo.