Wawrinka Praises Alcaraz: “Elevating Tennis to New Heights”

Stan Wawrinka arrives at the ATP Masters 1000 Monte Carlo 2026 determined to enjoy each event and pursue major goals. He insists he is not on a farewell tour and remains fully competitive.

Decision to manage schedule

Wawrinka skipped the first two Masters 1000 tournaments of the season. He explained at a press conference before Monte Carlo that he did not request a wildcard.

The Lausanne native cited long trips and years on tour as reasons for cautious planning. He said preserving his body and mind was essential to compete throughout the year.

Targeting a match with Alcaraz

Wawrinka has publicly said his priority is to face Carlos Alcaraz later this season. A first-round win over Sebastián Báez would open the possibility of that meeting in Monte Carlo.

In press remarks, Wawrinka praises Alcaraz and called his court play exceptional. He described the Spaniard as elevating tennis to new heights and as taking the sport to another dimension.

Views on how the game has changed

Wawrinka pointed to equipment and balls as major factors altering modern play. He said matches have become more physical and more homogeneous across surfaces.

That trend, he added, makes tactical variation harder than before. He remains motivated to keep pushing himself despite those changes.

Wawrinka will attempt to realize his goal at Monte Carlo 2026. Filmogaz.com will follow any developments from the tournament.