Stan Wawrinka, known for having one of the most elegant one-handed backhands in the game, has announced that 2026 will be his last year on tour.
The Swiss player has won 16 tour-level titles, including three Grand Slam trophies, and rose to a career-high No. 3 in the ATP rankings.
“ONE LAST PUSH,” Wawrinka wrote on his social media channels. “Every book needs an ending. It’s time to write the last chapter of my career as a professional tennis player. 2026 will be my last year on tour.”
The announcement comes with Wawrinka currently 157th in the world singles after injuries and knee surgery saw him tumble down the rankings.
He has not reached a Grand Slam quarter-final since the 2020 Australian Open and will likely need wildcards to enter the majors in his farewell season.
After a first-round exit at the French Open earlier this year, Wawrinka admitted defeat became harder to accept in the twilight of his career, although he remained passionate about competing.
Wawrinka’s career hit the heights when he won trophies at the Australian Open in 2014, the French Open in 2015 and the US Open in 2016.
The 40-year-old has earned at least three wins against each member of the so-called ‘Big Three’ – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – and defeated former world No. 1 Andy Murray 10 times.
Wawrinka won his first ATP Tour title in Umag in 2006 and captured his last trophy in Geneva in 2017.
He also represented Switzerland at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, winning gold in the doubles with Roger Federer.
Wawrinka claimed his first Grand Slam title in Melbourne thanks to a four-set victory against Nadal to earn him the new moniker of ‘Grand Slam Stan’.
A year later at Roland Garros, he defied the odds to claim a famous victory over then-world No. 1 Djokovic, and he added his third major title in New York when he again upset Djokovic’s party by claiming a four-set success.
He always lives by the tattoo on his left forearm in cursive writing that quotes Irish author Samuel Beckett: “Ever tried. Ever failed. Whatever. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
Wawrinka will open his final season in Perth at the United Cup, which begins on January 2.
What is so special about the Wawrinka backhand?
The Wawrinka backhand is pure mastery – early preparation, steady movement and weight behind the ball
‘Stan The Man’ has arguably the best backhand in the game and unleashes it with not only ferocious power but also precision.
It’s different from his rivals’ backhand, mainly because he takes an open stance on the side and drills straight into the ball, which means it has little topspin and arrives at his opponents far earlier and flatter than they’re used to.
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