Draw Preview: Wawrinka Could Face Alcaraz In Farewell Appearance

Top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner both face potential intriguing opening matches at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

Alcaraz will meet 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka if the Swiss defeats Argentine Sebastian Baez in the first round. More than 18 years older than Alcaraz, 41-year-old Wawrinka is set to make his 16th and final appearance in the Principality, having announced that 2026 would be his last season on tour.

Second seed Sinner, who has the chance to reclaim World No. 1 from Alcaraz during the tournament, will open his campaign against the winner of former World No. 13 Frenchman Ugo Humbert or his 17-year-old countryman Moise Kouame.

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Alcaraz and Sinner have combined to win the past 19 tournaments in which both players have appeared in the draw. Alcaraz on Monday will begin his 66th week as World No. 1, exactly matching the time Sinner has spent in top spot during his career. The 22-year-old Alcaraz needs three wins next week to reach the 300-match-wins milestone.

Should he reach the third round, Alcaraz could meet Grigor Dimitrov or 14th seed Frances Tiafoe. The defending champion is seeded to meet Miami finalist Jiri Lehecka or Alexander Bublik in the quarter-finals and 2025 finalist Lorenzo Musetti or fifth seed Alex De Minaur in the semi-finals.

Sinner is seeded to meet Argentine Francisco Cerundolo in the third round, Casper Ruud or Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-finals and third seed Alexander Zverev or Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals.

Medvedev, who has reclaimed a Top 10-spot after a 19-5 start to the season including titles in Brisbane and Dubai, could face Matteo Berrettini in his opener and 12th seed Karen Khachanov or fast-rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca in the third round.

Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot will open against Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak, with the winner to play Musetti. Vacherot came into last year’s tournament as the World No. 256. But after his stunning run to the Rolex Shanghai Masters title in October, he returns at a career-high No. 23 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Three-time champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is at risk of slipping outside the Top 50, opens against Cerundolo. Gael Monfils, who like Wawrinka is making his final appearance in Monte-Carlo, opens against Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.

Main draw play begins Sunday.