Stan Wawrinka's retirement in 2026: The Slams he won, how he fared against the Big 3, and heartfelt reactions from rivals

Stan Wawrinka will be the latest high-profile player to hang up his racket for good. The Swiss legend took to social media on Friday, December 19, to announce that the 2026 season will be his final year on the tour. In a career spanning over two decades, he has accomplished a lot while entertaining fans with his mesmerizing one-handed backhand.

Wawrinka is now 40 years of age, and is ready to pass on the baton to the next generation of players. He played every match with passion, and endured numerous peaks and valleys in his career with his head held high. He's ready to go out on a high, and is looking forward to making his final year on tour memorable.

"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," Wawrinka said in his message on Instagram.

As Wawrinka prepares to bid adieu to the sport, here's a quick retrospective of his career highlights over the years:

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Stan Wawrinka reigned supreme across 3 of the 4 Majors in his career

Stan Wawrinka at the US Open 2016. (Photo: Getty)

Stan Wawrinka's talent was evident, yet he initially struggled to make an impact at the biggest tournaments on the men's circuit. It didn't help that he was competing during the golden age of tennis, which was dominated by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.

However, Wawrinka proved to be a late bloomer, eventually claiming his maiden Major title at the age of 29 years at the Australian Open 2014. He achieved the feat in style, defying the odds to beat Djokovic and Nadal en route to the title.

Wawrinka crossed paths with Djokovic, the three-time defending champion, in the quarterfinals. He had lost his last 14 matches against the Serb as well. However, he battled hard, eventually winning 9-7 in the fifth set to one-up his rival.

The Swiss then faced Nadal in the summit clash. He had previously never beaten the Spaniard, and hadn't even won a set against him. He turned the tables on his illustrious opponent this time. His shotmaking subdued his rival in four sets to hand him his maiden Major title.

A year later, Wawrinka would lift the winner's trophy at the French Open. He beat compatriot Federer in straight sets in the quarterfinals, and defeated Djokovic in four sets in the summit clash to capture his second Major title.

Wawrinka continued his excellent run at the Majors in 2016 as well. He captured the US Open title that year, and it came at the expense of Djokovic in the final once again. He saved a match point en route to the title, against Dan Evans in the third round. Additionally, he beat the reigning World No. 1 in the final to win all three of his Major titles.

Wawrinka reached the final of the French Open 2017 as well, and went down to Nadal this time. It marked his first defeat in a Major final. It would also be his last appearance in the title round of a Grand Slam. Wimbledon remained the only Major to elude him, depriving him of the coveted Career Grand Slam.

He never made it past the quarterfinals at the All England Club, reaching the last eight in 2014 and 2015. He still has one last chance to script history next year, though the odds are not in his favor.

Aside from his three Major titles, Wawrinka clinched his only Masters 1000 title at the Monte-Carlo Masters 2014. He won a total of 16 career titles from 31 finals. He also teamed up with Federer to win the gold medal in men's doubles at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He peaked at No. 3 in the rankings, and finished five consecutive seasons, from 2013 to 2017, within the top 10 of the ATP rankings.

Wawrinka's frequent run-ins with Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic didn't end up in his favor. However, he still gave a good account of himself against them, and scored some memorable wins as well.

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Stan Wawrinka is among the handful of players to have at least 3 wins against each "Big 3" member

Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka at the French Open 2015. (Photo: Getty)

The collective dominance of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic stopped many players from achieving their goals, including Stan Wawrinka. However, the trio weren't infallible despite their greatness. Their opponents often had to play at an extremely high level to beat them even once, so doing it multiple times against all three of them was an uphill task.

Nevertheless, Wawrinka managed to beat the three of them at least thrice during his career. He beat Nadal and Federer thrice each, and got the better of Djokovic on six occasions. While the victories are an impressive feat, his overall head-to-head against them isn't that boastworthy.

Wawrinka trails Federer and Nadal 3-23 and 3-19 in their rivalry respectively. Despite being a thorn in Djokovic's side, Wawrinka trails their head-to-head 6-21. Since the Serb is still active on the tour, the two could contest another epic during his farewell season.

Wawrinka earned the respect of his peers with his accomplishments and commitment to the tour. Naturally, they're all emotional about his impending departure. Following his retirement announcement, many took to social media to congratulate him on his career.

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Stan Wawrinka's rivals react emotionally to his upcoming retirement

Stan Wawrinka at the French Open 2025. (Photo: Getty)

Stan Wawrinka's rivals, both past and present, were emotional at the news of his upcoming retirement. Gael Monfils and Juan Martin del Potro, both acknowledged the news by sharing an emoji under his retirement post. Karen Khachanov was more expressive, leaving a message for him.

23-year-old Arthur Cazaux grew up idolizing Wawrinka. He got a chance to play with him and against him as well. The young Frenchman called his idol a "legend". Matthew Ebden, Radu Albot, and Alex Corretja were among the other players to congratulate him on his career.

Comments on Stan Wawrinka's retirement post. (Source: instagram - @stanwawrinka85)

As the word continues to spread, expect more of Wawrinka's rivals to react to his retirement. As one of the most prolific players of his era, his absence on the tour will be sorely felt.

Edited by Rohit