Stan Wawrinka has made peace with his upcoming retirement, but the Swiss veteran plans to compete hard in his final season.
The three-time Grand Slam champion spoke ahead of the United Cup in Perth, where he leads Switzerland’s team. At 40 years old and ranked 157, Wawrinka confirmed 2026 will mark the end of his professional career. He announced the decision last month, calling it the “final chapter” after more than two decades on tour.
“Of course, I’m still passionate about the game, about the sport I love,” Wawrinka said. He acknowledged the emotions tied to stepping away. “What I received from it, the emotion playing in a different country, coming back here with a lot of fans, a lot of support, so I’m going to miss that part, that’s for sure.”
Wawrinka took time over recent months to weigh his options. “The last few months, I’ve had time to decide whether it will be my last year or not, and for me, it’s quite clear. I’m happy with the decision, I’m at peace with that.”
His achievements stand out in an era ruled by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. Wawrinka claimed the Australian Open in 2014 by beating Nadal in the final. He followed with the French Open title in 2015, defeating Djokovic, and the US Open in 2016, again topping the Serb. Those wins made him one of few players to upset the Big Three in major finals.
A former world No. 3, Wawrinka has 16 ATP titles, with his most recent coming in Geneva in 2017. Injuries, including knee surgeries, dropped him in the rankings in recent years. Still, he intends to train fully and chase results.
“I still want to play some good tennis, I still have goals. Hopefully I can come back in the top 100, finish on a good ranking,” he said. “I want to play the full year, the big tournaments, the main ones, and let’s see my ranking in the next few months.”
Wawrinka also earned Olympic doubles gold with Federer in Beijing 2008 and helped Switzerland win its first Davis Cup in 2014.
At the United Cup, a mixed-team event starting Friday in Perth, Wawrinka captains Switzerland alongside world No. 11 Belinda Bencic. The team faces France and Italy in group play. Early matches showed Wawrinka’s fight: he rallied for a three-hour win over France’s Arthur Rinderknech in his opener, helping secure a tie victory.
Fans and peers recognize Wawrinka’s powerful one-handed backhand and resilience. As he begins this farewell season, he focuses on competition rather than sentiment.
Wawrinka starts the year in Perth before heading to the Australian Open, site of his first major triumph. He aims to make the most of his remaining time on court, targeting strong performances across the schedule.
