The Swiss chose the coming season as the final chapter of his distinguished career.
Vintage Stan in Croatia ⏳@stanwawrinka defeated Guillen Meza 6-4 6-1 in Umag, where he took his first ever ATP title!#CroatiaOpenUmag pic.twitter.com/Rz9MRSJrye
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 21, 2025
The three-time Major champion and former world No. 3 announced his retirement a few weeks ago. He will make another push in 2026, starting with the United Cup alongside Belinda Bencic.
Stan is left out of the Australian Open qualifying list, hoping to receive a wildcard into the main draw at the event where he claimed his first Major crown in 2014.
Rather than quietly fade away, 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 offseason 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 best players in the world.
As always, Stan values the experience of traveling the world, playing in front of passionate audiences and feeling the unique energy of different tennis cultures. After all, that’s what pushed him to continue after his 41st birthday.
The end is near, but Wawrinka doesn’t plan to take 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 best players in the world, the final act promises to be anything but routine.
The 40-year-old has four ATP victories in 2025. He finished the season in the top 160, making him the third oldest active player on the ATP Tour. Wawrinka will combine ATP and Challenger tournaments next year.
Of course, many events on the main tour offer him a wild card, allowing audiences to see the one-handed backhand magician in action for the last time.
“I’m still passionate about the game and the sport I love. The emotion of playing in another country, like coming back to Australia where I have a lot of fans and support, I’m going to miss that part, that’s for sure.
Over the past few months I’ve had time to decide if this will be my last year, and for me it’s pretty clear. I am happy with the decision, I am at peace with it. I did well in the offseason and I’m happy.
The latter won’t be easy this year, that’s for sure, but I’m looking forward to it. I’m still playing good tennis, so hopefully I can achieve remarkable results in 2026 and finish at a high level.
I want to end my career on a good level and still be able to play against those top guys and see where I stand,” said Stan Wawrinka.
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