Stan Wawrinka rules out post‑2026 comeback and warns of overloaded tennis calendar

Swiss three‑time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, now 41, reiterated on a podcast that he will retire at the end of the 2026 season and will not return, saying “Absolutely not. It’s impossible.” He emphasized he has given everything to the sport and cannot ask more of his body.

Wawrinka shifted focus to the broader issue of the sport’s schedule, calling the eleven‑month calendar “too dense” and blaming it for physical wear on players, especially younger top‑20 and top‑30 athletes who are increasingly injury‑prone. He described the year‑round travel, minimal rest, and mandatory tournament commitments as causing chronic strain and urged reforms to de‑congest the calendar.