John Isner Doubts Stan Wawrinka's Retirement Plans

The former world No. 8 believes Wawrinka may continue playing beyond 2026.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Back in December 2025, three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka announced that the 2026 season would be his final one on the ATP Tour. However, fellow American player John Isner believes Wawrinka may reconsider his retirement plans if he continues playing well in 2026. Isner thinks Wawrinka could potentially play beyond 2026, especially if he is still ranked highly and qualifies for the Australian Open on his own merits at 41 years old.

Why it matters

Wawrinka's potential decision to continue playing past 2026 would be significant news in the tennis world, as the Swiss veteran has had an illustrious career and his retirement was expected to be a major event. Isner's comments suggest Wawrinka may still have more left in the tank, which could impact the future landscape of men's professional tennis.

The details

Wawrinka has been playing some of his best tennis in recent years, reaching the third round of the 2026 Australian Open and winning a match in Montpellier before falling to Felix Auger-Aliassime. This strong start to the season has led Isner to believe Wawrinka may reconsider his retirement plans, especially if he remains highly ranked and qualifies for the Australian Open on his own in 2027 at 41 years old. Fellow American player Sam Querrey agrees with Isner's assessment, saying he thinks Wawrinka will just continue playing in 2027 rather than retiring.

  • In December 2025, Wawrinka announced the 2026 season would be his last.
  • Wawrinka reached the third round of the 2026 Australian Open.
  • Wawrinka beat Hamad Medjedovic in Montpellier before losing to Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The players

Stan Wawrinka

A three-time Grand Slam champion who announced in 2025 that the 2026 season would be his last on the ATP Tour.

John Isner

A former world No. 8 and Miami Open champion who believes Wawrinka may reconsider his retirement plans.

Sam Querrey

Another American former world No. 9 player who agrees with Isner's assessment that Wawrinka will likely continue playing beyond 2026.

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What they’re saying

“I have got a hot take on Stan. I think he reconsiders retirement. If he is playing a full schedule, it is likely that Basel would be his last tournament. If he is 60 to 70 in the race at that time, and he is clearly in the Australian Open on his own, at approaching 41. I think he reconsiders.”

— John Isner, Former World No. 8 (Nothing Major Show)

“I am with you. I don't even think he reconsiders. I think he just plays 2027.”

— Sam Querrey, Former World No. 9 (Nothing Major Show)

What’s next

Wawrinka will open his Rotterdam Open campaign on Wednesday against Australia's Aleksandar Vukic, whom he has faced and defeated once before. If Wawrinka gets past Vukic, he could potentially face Alex de Minaur or Arthur Fils in the next round, followed by a potential third-round matchup against Stefanos Tsitsipas, Arthur Rinderknech or Botic van de Zandschulp.

The takeaway

Wawrinka's strong start to the 2026 season has led some of his peers to believe he may reconsider his previously announced plans to retire at the end of the year. If the Swiss legend continues to play at a high level, he could potentially extend his career beyond 2026, defying expectations and delighting fans who have followed his illustrious career.