A champion on the Parisian clay in 2015, Stan Wawrinka will take to the French Open courts one final time this year after being handed a main-draw wildcard by the tournament.
The former World No. 3, who is set to end his tennis career this year, will now get the chance to say goodbye to the site of arguably the greatest victory of his career.
Wawrinka Set for Roland Garros Finale
One Last Push
After struggling with injuries and form over the last couple of years, three-time Major champion Stan Wawrinka announced that he will bring an end to his career in 2026, calling it the “one last push” of what has been an extraordinary journey.
The Swiss star, who has won six of his 16 ATP Tour matches in 2026 so far, has relied heavily on wildcards to enter the biggest tournaments on tour due to his drop in the rankings.
Last week, he had to withdraw from the qualifying rounds in Rome. However, to the delight of many fans, the French Tennis Federation recently announced that he would not need to battle through qualifying in Paris, as he had been awarded a main-draw wildcard. His final matches at the French Open are now expected to take place on one of the tournament’s biggest courts.
Musetti Withdrawal Changes Wawrinka’s Status
However, following the withdrawal of Lorenzo Musetti from the French Open, Wawrinka ultimately gained direct entry into the main draw anyway. As a result, his wildcard was reallocated to Frenchman Clement Tabur, who is currently ranked No. 168 in the world.
Among the other players awarded wildcards for the second Major of the year, Gael Monfils, who is also expected to retire at the end of the season, headlines the list. Youngster Moise Kouame is set to make his main-draw debut at his home Slam, while American Nishesh Basavareddy also received a wildcard as part of the USTA partnership program.
French Open Still Loaded With Storylines
Despite the withdrawals of several major names, including two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, the French Open is once again expected to deliver an exciting fortnight in Paris beginning at the end of May.
Storylines such as Jannik Sinner chasing a Career Grand Slam, alongside Paris preparing to bid farewell to one of its former champions and one of French tennis’ great entertainers, should ensure plenty of intrigue for fans.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – USA TODAY Sports
