{"id":202176,"date":"2025-10-15T16:25:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T16:25:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/202176\/"},"modified":"2025-10-15T16:25:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T16:25:12","slug":"grand-slam-champion-confirms-he-will-not-be-retiring-in-2026-im-going-to-play-next-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/202176\/","title":{"rendered":"Grand Slam champion confirms he will not be retiring in 2026, ‘I’m going to play next season’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It\u2019s come to the time of year when players start making decisions on what will happen in 2026. <\/p>\n

Some ATP<\/a> and WTA<\/a> players, most notably Jack Draper<\/a>, Daria Kastakina<\/a> and Elina Svitolina have ended their seasons early this year<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Gael Monfils has made a big call on his future<\/a> in recent weeks too, with the year now dwindling to a close. <\/p>\n

Tommy Paul has been encouraged to pull out of tournaments<\/a>, given his injury problems, and at this time of the year, even the very best are feeling sore. <\/p>\n

The indoor tournaments are getting into the swing of things right now, with the Stockholm Open attracting some storylines already. <\/p>\n

Sebastian Ofner lost a ninth successive match<\/a>, losing to the son of Bjorn Borg<\/a>, Leo, and it remains to be seen who will win the event in Sweden. <\/p>\n

A former Grand Slam champion is in the field at the event, and Marin Cilic<\/a> has now delivered an update on his future after his maiden victory. <\/p>\n

\"MarinPhoto by David Jerkovic\/Pixsell\/MB Media\/Getty ImagesMarin Cilic confirms he will be playing tennis next year<\/p>\n

Cilic had a stunning win over Jack Draper<\/a> at Wimbledon earlier this year, and on his day, he\u2019s still a brilliant player. <\/p>\n

Now, the Croatian player who won the US Open<\/a> in 2014 has made a decision on his future, and he\u2019s not willing to walk away from the ATP Tour just yet. <\/p>\n

After beating Nicolai Budkov Kjaer in the last 32 at the Stockholm Open, he confessed that he\u2019s made up his mind over whether to carry on next year. <\/p>\n

He said in his press conference: \u201cI\u2019m going to play next season. I\u2019m feeling good physically. You never know what the future is going to bring, but so far, so good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cilic now faces the number two seed, Casper Ruud<\/a>, looking for a place in the quarterfinal as he bids to end the year with a bit of a flourish. <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f\ud83c\udded\ud83c\uddf7 Marin Cilic in Stockholm after his win over 19-year-old \ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddf4 Budkov Kjaer:<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc49 On the slower playing conditions in Stockholm compared to other indoor events:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a combination of the court and the balls. The balls are on the heavier side here, they quickly become bigger, so\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/3skETxdQsg<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tennis Masterr (@tennismasterr) October 14, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

What Cilic said about the courts at the Stockholm Open<\/p>\n

Alexander Zverev said on the Asian swing that courts were being made slower<\/a> to accommodate Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. <\/p>\n

Now, it feels trendy for players to be quizzed on the speed of the courts, with Cilic getting asked about the indoor venue in Stockholm after his win. <\/p>\n

Australian Open Final (2018)French OpenSemifinal (2022)WimbledonFinal (2017)US OpenWinner (2014)Marin Cilic\u2019s best run at the four Grand Slam events<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cIt\u2019s a combination of the court and the balls. The balls are on the heavier side here, they quickly become bigger, so the ball doesn\u2019t have the weight to go through the court. You have to adapt.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Cilic proving a top player across his career, it\u2019s quite romantic that the 37-year-old isn\u2019t willing to put his racket away for the final time just yet. <\/p>\n