Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils granted Roland Garros wild cards as retirement looms

The French Open confirmed its 2026 wild cards on Monday, with Stan Wawrinka and Gaël Monfils headlining the list as part of their farewell seasons on tour, effectively confirming their participation at Roland Garros.

Both players, long-standing figures on the circuit, will return to Paris in what is expected to be one of their final appearances at the tournament, adding a clear retirement context to this year’s main draw announcements.

Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion and 2015 Roland Garros winner, enters the event ranked No. 125, while Monfils, a former world No. 6 and 2008 French Open semi-finalist, is currently ranked No. 222. Their inclusion via wild card was expected, although it still required formal confirmation from the organisers.

The announcement confirms that both players plan to retire at the end of the season, with organisers also preparing formal recognition for them after their final matches in Paris. In this sense, the 2026 edition of Roland Garros will carry a symbolic weight beyond the competition itself, marking the end of two distinct careers that have shaped different eras of men’s tennis.

The main draw will also feature several younger names across both competitions. On the men’s side, French prospect Moïse Kouamé, aged 17, joins American Nishesh Basavareddy among the wild card recipients, reinforcing the tournament’s focus on emerging talent alongside established figures.

In the women’s draw, organisers awarded wild cards to a mix of returning players and young prospects. Clara Burel returns after a long absence from the tour and without a current ranking, with the former world No. 41 set to make another appearance at Roland Garros, where she previously reached the third round in 2020.

Also included is 17-year-old Australian Emerson Jones, a former junior world No. 1, alongside French-Malagasy player Taintsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah, aged 20. The latter made headlines in 2025 after winning her first WTA 250 title in São Paulo, and now earns a place in the main draw at Roland Garros as part of the next generation being introduced on the big stage.