Stan Wawrinka has made his final appearance at the Monte Carlo Masters after being eliminated in the first round on Monday by Sebastian Baez. The 2014 champion of the event lost the match with a score of 7-5, 7-5.
Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, announced that he will be retiring from professional tennis at the end of the current season. This year marked his wildcard entry into the main draw in Monaco, exactly two decades after his debut at the prestigious tournament.
The Swiss player secured his only ATP Masters 1000 title 12 years ago in Monte Carlo, defeating his compatriot Roger Federer in the final.
Prior to his match against the 65th-ranked Argentine, Baez, Wawrinka's only competitive match since reaching the Round of 16 at the Dubai Open in February was a three-set loss to Matteo Martineau at a challenger event in Naples late last month. Martineau was ranked outside the top 300 at the time.
Despite his recent form, Wawrinka started strongly on Court Rainier III, establishing an early 4-1 lead in the first set.
However, Baez managed to fight back, bringing the score level at 5-5 before breaking Wawrinka's serve in the 11th game to take the lead.
Wawrinka then lost his opening service game of the second set, allowing Baez to gain firm control of the match. The Argentine eventually secured the victory in one hour and 47 minutes, after Wawrinka made a late push to challenge the outcome.
Following this victory, Baez is scheduled to face the world number one and defending Monte Carlo champion, Carlos Alcaraz, in the second round.
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