Stan Wawrinka has announced that he will hang up the racquet at the end of 2026.
The three-time grand slam champion shared his decision to leave the sport he first started playing 32 years ago on X, stating it was time to start writing his “final chapter”.
A former world No.3, Wawrinka has faced some of the game’s greatest in major finals, including Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
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In fact, the 40-year-old has defeated the pair in major finals including the Australian Open in 2014, where he faced Nadal, and 2015 French Open, battling Djokovic.
Stan Wawrinka waves to the crowd. Getty
Wawrinka was one of the few players who did manage to achieve that feat during the time period where the ‘Big Three’ were the most dominant.
“One last push,” Wawrinka wrote in a post on X.
“Every book needs an ending. It’s time to write the final chapter of my career as a professional tennis player. 2026 will be my last year on tour.
“I’ve enjoyed every part of what tennis has given me, especially the emotions I feel playing in front of you.”
Wawrinka turned pro in 2022 and has won a total of 16 tour-level trophies throughout his career. Of the active players, he has the the fourth most amount of tour wins.
The Swiss star has also won an Olympic gold medal when he teamed up with Roger Federer in the doubles event in Beijing in 2008.
He also played a vital role in Switzerland’s 2014 Davis Cup victory.
Stan Wawrinka Getty
It has been almost 10 years since Wawrinka last won a title, but that is not enough to deter his mentality in his final year in the sport.
“I still want to push my limits and finish this journey on the best note possible,” he said.
“I still have dreams in this sport. I’m looking forward to seeing you one more time, all around the world. One last push.”
For now, he will set his sites on performing well in Australia, joining Switzerland for their United Cup campaign in Perth on January 2.