Stan Wawrinka receives Barcelona wildcard in final career year

Stan Wawrinka has accepted a wildcard for the ATP 500 Barcelona Open as part of a busy clay-court schedule in his announced final season on tour. The 40-year-old Swiss player, who revealed 2026 as his last year in December, will also compete in Monte-Carlo, Geneva, Estoril and Roland Garros.

Stan Wawrinka, who announced on December 19, 2025, that 2026 would be his final year on the ATP Tour, has received and accepted a main draw wildcard for the Barcelona Open, scheduled for April 13-19. Tennis journalist José Morgado reported the entry on March 26, noting Wawrinka's packed clay schedule. The three-time Grand Slam champion holds a 12-6 record in Barcelona, with titles in 2006 and 2008. Last year, he fell in the round of 32 to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. This marks only his second appearance there in 16 years. Tournament officials granted the wildcard after Wawrinka was overlooked for entries in Indian Wells and Miami. He begins his clay swing at the Monte-Carlo Masters next month, where he won his sole title in 2014 by defeating Roger Federer in the final. Wawrinka then heads to the Geneva Open in May—site of his last ATP trophy in 2017—and the Estoril Open in July, a new addition to his resume. The season culminates at Roland Garros, where he claimed the 2015 French Open title against Novak Djokovic. This year, Wawrinka has a 6-8 record, including a third-round run at the Australian Open that returned him to the top 100 for the first time since July 2024. He started clay at the Napoli Challenger but lost in the first round to Matteo Martineau. In his retirement announcement, Wawrinka wrote, “Every book needs an ending. It’s time to write the final chapter of my career as a professional tennis player. 2026 will be my last year on tour.” At the Rotterdam Open, he reflected, “The emotion you get from the sport... that’s what I’m going to miss the most.” Barcelona features top players like world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, Alex de Minaur and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

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