The eagerly awaited Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters is just around the corner, with tournament organizers recently revealing the names of two wild-card entrants: former champion Stan Wawrinka and the talented Matteo Berrettini.
Wawrinka has a storied history in Monte-Carlo, having triumphed here in 2014 when he defeated fellow Swiss star Roger Federer in a thrilling final. Now, at 40 years old, he is gearing up for his 16th appearance in the event, determined to make a mark in what is expected to be his final season on the ATP tour. After a challenging couple of years, Wawrinka has demonstrated resilience, recently breaking back into the top 100 for the first time since 2024 and accumulating six ATP match wins in 2026.
On the other hand, Matteo Berrettini enters the tournament hoping to build on his solid performance from last year, where he reached the third round by overcoming Alexander Zverev. Currently ranked 68th in the world, Berrettini’s ranking secures him a spot in many ATP events, yet the specifics of Monte-Carlo’s wild-card allocation made his entry necessary.
Unique among Masters 1000 events, Monte-Carlo does not mandate player participation, leading to varying fields of competitors. Despite this flexibility, it’s worth noting that nine of the top ten players in the ATP rankings are confirmed in the initial entry list. The sole exception is American player Ben Shelton, whose absence isn’t surprising as many players from the U.S. traditionally bypass Monte-Carlo in favor of launching their clay-court campaigns in Houston before turning to the prestigious Madrid Masters.
As fans look ahead to the tournament, the spotlight will undoubtedly be on Wawrinka, whose legacy in Monte-Carlo and throughout his career remains a pivotal topic among tennis enthusiasts. Meanwhile, Berrettini seeks to re-establish his presence on the clay as he eyes a deep run in this iconic tournament.
