Stan Wawrinka will ‘ask for wildcard’ to ensure Roland Garros return

Stan Wawrinka has revealed that he will pursue a wildcard rather than using one of his protected ranking entries to play Roland Garros come late May. 

The three-time Major champion is aiming to play the Paris Slam for the first time since 2020 after returning to the ATP tour with a wildcard in Monte Carlo.

Currently ranked 236th in the world, Wawrinka must rely on his protected ranking or wildcard invitations to play tour level events on his comeback from injury.

He said after losing to Alexander Bublik in Monte Carlo: “I will ask for a wildcard [into Roland Garros].

“That’s what I do for every tournament, because I only have nine protected rankings I can use and I want to keep them.

“But I’m sure I will, in the end, have to use my protected ranking because the wildcards will have to go to other players.”

According to the ATP tour website, “The Entry Protection shall be in effect for either the first nine tournaments that the player competes in using the Entry Protection (excluding wild cards and entries as a Direct Acceptance with his current position in the ATP Rankings) or for the period up to nine months beginning with the first tennis event that the player competes in, whichever occurs first.”

While it is unclear exactly what Wawrinka’s protected ranking would be, it would fall well within the ATP top 100, enough to secure him a main draw appearance at any Slam.

While his tour return ended in defeat to Bublik, Wawrinka said the match exceeded his expectations given the time he had spent away from competition.

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