After a quarter of a century on the professional circuit, Stan Wawrinka will end his tennis journey in 2026.
The Swiss picked the upcoming season as the final chapter of his distinctive career.
The three-time Major champion and former world no. 3 announced his retirement a couple of weeks ago. He will make one more push in 2026, starting from the United Cup alongside Belinda Bencic.
Stan is not on the Australian Open qualifying list, hoping to receive a wild card for the main draw at the event where he claimed his first Major crown in 2014.
Rather than fading quietly, Wawrinka enters his final season with clarity and conviction. Months of reflection have brought peace with the decision, allowing him to approach the season without hesitation or doubt.
A productive off-season has reinforced that belief, both physically and mentally. The 40-year-old remains confident that his level still allows him to compete on the sport's biggest stages and challenge the world's best players.
As always, Stan values the experience of traveling the world, playing in front of passionate crowds and feeling the unique energy of different tennis cultures. After all, that has driven him to continue beyond his 41st birthday.
The end is near, but Wawrinka has no intention of treating it as a victory lap. His ambition is to challenge elite opponents and measure himself against the very best, even at this age.
As 2026 begins, Stan's focus is simple. He wants to end his journey on his terms, with competitive fire intact and new memories. For a three-time Major winner, who has tested his skills against the world's greatest players, the final act promises to be anything but routine.
The 40-year-old earned four ATP victories in 2025. He finished the season in the top-160, standing as the third-oldest activeplayer on the ATP Tour. Wawrinka will combine ATP and Challenger tournaments next year.
Of course, many main-tour events will offer him a wild card, allowing the crowd to see the magician with a one-handed backhand in action for the finaltime.
"I'm still passionate about the game and the sport I love. The emotion of playing in a different country, like coming back here to Australia, where I have a lot of fans and support, I'm going to miss that part, that's for sure.
In the last few months, I have had time to decide whether this will be my last year, and for me, it's quite clear. I'm happy with the decision, I'm at peace with that. I did a good off-season, and I'm happy.
The last one is not going to be easy this year, that's for sure, but I'm looking forward. I'm still playing some good tennis, so hopefully I can have notableresults in 2026 and finish on a highnote.
I want to finish my career on a good level and still be able to play those top guys and see where I stand," Stan Wawrinka said.
