Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils set for French Open wildcards as prize money boost announced, with Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner gunning for title
Published 16/04/2026 at 16:45 GMT+1
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French Open organisers confirmed on Thursday that two legends of the sport, both in their final season on the men's circuit, are set to compete for the final time on the clay courts of Roland-Garros next month.
'Happy to win at least one big trophy on this surface' - Sinner on claiming Monte Carlo title
Video credit: SNTV
Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils have played their respective parts in showcases of stunning tennis on the iconic Paris courts.
Wawrinka announced in December - via the unconventional method of an acrostic poem - that the 2026 season would be his last on the professional tour.
Monfils, two months earlier, shared the same news, as he brings down the curtain on a career he felt "insanely, stupidly lucky" to have enjoyed.
And the pair will be out to dazzle one final time as they look to embark on unlikely runs to the latter stages of the second Grand Slam of the year, which starts on May 24, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Neither Wawrinka nor Monfils are ranked highly enough to qualify for the French Open, but a statement from the Grand Slam confirmed both look set to receive wildcards.
"Stan Wawrinka – champion in 2015 and finalist in 2017 – will compete in his 21st and final Roland‑Garros in 2026," said the statement.
"Tournament organisers will honour him following his last match at Porte d’Auteuil. Finally, Gael Monfils will also bid farewell to Parisian clay."
France's Caroline Garcia, who retired last summer, will also be honoured at the Grand Slam.
Wawrinka, 41, won the French Open in 2015 - his second major after winning the Australian Open the year prior.
Rafael Nadal had won five consecutive Paris titles before Wawrinka embarked upon his incredible run, beating Roger Federer in straight sets in the quarter-finals before upsetting home favourite Tsonga and bettering Novak Djokovic over four sets in the final.
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Watch emotional moment Wawrinka 'rolls back the years' in 'stunning' five-set victory
Video credit: TNT Sports
Just two years later, Wawrinka would enjoy yet another inspired campaign on the clay, but fell in straight sets to Nadal in the 2017 final.
Wawrinka's ability to mix it with the 'Big Three', and indeed Andy Murray in his pomp, saw him gain a cult following which has followed him through to the very end of his career - evident in the raucous atmospheres his matches garnered at the 2026 Australian Open.
The Swiss showed battling qualities of the very highest order as he charged to the third round in Melbourne, a run which saw him beat Arthur Gea in a mammoth encounter lasting over four-and-a-half hours.
Monfils, meanwhile, is one of the sport's greatest showmen. And if the Frenchman conjures anything like his five-set battle with Hugo Dellien under the roof last year, his home crowd will not be disappointed.
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'Thank you for this amazing ride' - Emotional Monfils brings Australian Open career to a close
Video credit: TNT Sports
A special event called 'Gael & Friends' will take place on May 21 and will see "current stars of the game as well as close friends" present to celebrate Monfils' career, including former companions Richard Gasquet and Tsonga.
"It feels strange to write this, but it’s the reality," Monfils wrote on X.
"And rather than letting it pass in silence, I wanted to mark the occasion in a way that truly reflects who I am.
"I called some friends. Real friends. Players I admire and with whom I’ve shared locker rooms, courts, and laughter. And then artists I love deeply - Matt Pokora, Martin Solveig, Franglish - because for me, tennis and music have always been intertwined. It’s my life; it’s in my DNA."
French Open prize money up from 2025
As part of the announcement, French Open organisers said further changes will see an increase in prize money, with this year's total at €61.723m (£53.6m).
That is a 9.53% increase on last year, which was set at €56.352m (£43.3m).
The increase falls in line with the other Grand Slams, with the prize pool falling just short of the AUD$111.5 million (£55.4m) won at this year's Australian Open.
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Highlights: Alcaraz overpowers Sinner in classic Roland-Garros final
Video credit: TNT Sports
French Open organisers also said the prize money for qualifying has been increased by 12.9% from last year, while the pot for the main draw is up by 10.1%.
Prize money increases for the doubles (3.90%) and wheelchair events (14.55%) were also announced.
Wearables permitted after Australian Open confusion
Further announced in the French Open's list of changes was a new rule regarding 'wearables' - with players now allowed to wear devices tracking biometric data.
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka were ordered to remove fitness trackers from their wrists during the Australian Open. Specific devices had been approved by the ATP and WTA, but Grand Slams had yet to permit the devices.
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'Both are very difficult' - Sinner compares winning 'Sunshine Double' to Grand Slams
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French Open organisers said in a statement that the rule change will provide players with "valuable insights into their physical performance and recovery throughout the tournament."
"The trial - using devices listed on the World Tennis‑approved ”Player Analysis Tennis” register - will also be implemented at Wimbledon and the US Open."
How to watch 2026 French Open
The second Grand Slam of the season is nearly upon us, with the French Open beginning next month after a series of clay court events on the ATP and WTA tours.
Alcaraz and Sinner played out one of the most exhilarating major finals of all-time last year on Court Philippe-Chatrier, and all signs point towards another strong run for the men's top two.
Coco Gauff, meanwhile, will return to defend her title after a thrilling victory over Aryna Sabalenka last year. But in a vastly competitive women's field, the likes of Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina, four-time French Open winner Iga Swiatek, and the ever-improving Amanda Anisimova will be hot on their tails.
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Highlights: Gauff wins first French Open title in classic final against Sabalenka
Video credit: TNT Sports
The main-draw action starts on Sunday, May 24 and you can watch every day of the French Open live on TNT Sports. It will be available to stream both live and on-demand on HBO Max.
TNT Sports is the exclusive French Open broadcaster in the UK and Ireland. Coverage of every court will be available to stream live on HBO Max
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