# Stan Wawrinka’s Final Act: Inside the 40-Year-Old’s Return to the ATP Elite

**By Amelie Fontaine**  \nPublished September 8, 2026  \nUpdated September 9, 2026

> Entering what he has designated as his farewell year on the professional circuit, three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka has forced his way back into the ATP Top 100.

Professional tennis often discards its veterans with ruthless efficiency. The physical toll of grinding through hardcourt tours, clay swings, and five-set marathons usually forces players out long before their competitive fire burns out. Yet, as the 2026 season unfolds, Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka has chosen a different script for his final chapter on the professional circuit.

With five tour-level victories already secured in early 2026—eclipsing his entire win total from the previous season—Wawrinka has orchestrated a dramatic return to the elite tier. Following a run to the last 16 at the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam, where he fell to eventual champion Alex de Minaur, the three-time Grand Slam champion climbed from 156th in the world rankings up to 98th, securing his first appearance in the top 100 since 2024.

This surge places the 40-year-old in rare historical company. Wawrinka has become the first player older than 40 to crack the ATP Top 100 since his legendary compatriot Roger Federer accomplished the feat in 2022. At 40 years and 323 days old, Wawrinka stands as the third-oldest player in tennis history to feature in the top 100, trailing only Australian great Ken Rosewall and Federer, who held his place among the elite until he was 40 years and 330 days old. The exclusive club also includes Ivo Karlović and Jimmy Connors.

## The Anatomy of a Farewell Push

Wawrinka made no secret of his primary ambition entering the year: to squeeze every ounce of competitive tennis from his body, build a respectable campaign, and finish his career safely positioned inside the top 100. Achieving that milestone as early as February exceeded expectations, altering the immediate trajectory of his farewell season.

Reflecting on the elite single-handed backhands of the Open era, analysts and historians frequently group Wawrinka’s signature stroke right alongside those of Federer, Ken Rosewall, Justine Henin, and Richard Gasquet—whose own storied career concluded on the clay courts of Roland Garros against world number one Jannik Sinner. While Gasquet’s legacy is measured by the sheer aesthetic pleasure of his backhand and a matching record of 24 consecutive seasons with an ATP-level win, Wawrinka’s footprint remains anchored by his ruthless power under pressure and three major titles.

The contrast between Wawrinka’s current revival and his struggles in recent years underlines the volatile nature of tennis longevity. When Federer chased his own twilight milestones in Melbourne years prior—noting the rare art of serve-and-volley specialists like Mischa Zverev and battling through intense family schedules with his four children—he acknowledged the unique psychological barriers of aging on tour. Wawrinka now navigates those exact mental and physical frontiers.

## Evidence-Led Forecast: Maintaining the Elite Line

As Wawrinka defends his ranking points through the remainder of his final season, the tactical pattern of his matches relies heavily on first-strike aggression and dictating play from the baseline to offset younger opponents' speed. His strongest advantage lies in his wealth of experience in high-leverage moments and a heavily reinforced baseline game that punishes short balls. The primary counter-case against his sustained top-100 residency is physical attrition—the sheer recovery cost between consecutive three-set battles on the main tour. What would change this outlook is a continuation of his early-season efficiency on faster surfaces; if his serve percentage and heavy groundstrokes hold up against the tour's relentless depth, Wawrinka will successfully achieve his goal of retiring shoulder-to-shoulder with the sport's modern elite.

## Sources

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