The tennis world is preparing to say goodbye to one of its most resilient and respected figures. Swiss player Stanislas Wawrinka, former world number 3 and winner of three Grand Slam titles, shook the circuit this Friday by announcing that the 2026 season will be the last of his long and brilliant professional career. Having turned 41 at the time, “Stan the Man” will bring to close a journey that began on the professional courts back in 2002. The announcement came through an emotional message on his official Xbox and Instagram accounts, where the Lausanne native made it clear that, although his desire to compete remains intact, he understands that the cycle is about to end. "Every book needs an ending. The time has come to write the final chapter of my career as a professional tennis player, and 2026 will be my last year on the circuit," the Swiss player, currently ranked 157th in the ATP rankings, stated frankly. This news comes at the end of a turbulent 2025 for tennis, adding to the recent and unexpected professional separation between the world number one, Carlos Alcaraz, and his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero. However, Wawrinka's legacy carries a different nostalgic weight: it represents the twilight of the generation that dared to look the greatest players in history in the eye.

The legacy of a giant who challenged the “Big 3”

Wawrinka wasn't just any player; he was a thorn on the side of the most dominant era in men's tennis. In a time when Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic monopolized almost all the trophies, Stan managed to burst onto the scene with a one-handed backhand that became legendary. His record is proof of his mettle in the big tournaments: he won the Australian Open in 2014 after defeating Nadal, Roland Garros in 2015, and the US Open in 2016, defeating a resurgent Djokovic in the latter two finals.

His ability to perform under pressure was sealed in the statistics. Wawrinka amassed a total of 12 victories against members of the "Big 3": three against Federer, three against Nadal, and six against Djokovic. Furthermore, alongside his compatriot Federer,He delivered moments of national glory to Switzerland by winning gold in doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the historic Davis Cup in 2014. Despite the physical challenges and the passage of time, the Swiss player is reluctant to leave quietly. His farewell message was not just an announcement, but a declaration of intent regarding how he wants to spend his final months on tour: "One last push. 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. This is what this journey is all about. I still want to push my limits and finish this journey in the best way possible. I still have dreams in this sport. I have enjoyed every part of what tennis has given me, especially the emotions I feel playing in front of you. I want to see you one more time, all over the world.