Tennis Star Roberto Bautista Agut Announces Retirement After 2026 Season

Novak Djokovic praised Bautista Agut as one of the most underrated players in the last five years.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:04am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a tennis court and players, with sharp planes of color and overlapping perspectives, capturing the essence of Bautista Agut's consistent and high-level play.A cubist interpretation of the consistent, high-level tennis of Roberto Bautista Agut, who will retire after the 2026 season.Today in Miami

Spanish tennis player Roberto Bautista Agut has announced that the 2026 season will be his last on the ATP Tour. Bautista Agut, a former Wimbledon semi-finalist, reached a career-high ranking of world number nine in 2019 and has won 12 career titles, including the 2018 Dubai Tennis Championships. In 2020, Novak Djokovic praised Bautista Agut's consistent playing style and ability to maintain a high level of tennis across all surfaces.

Why it matters

Bautista Agut's retirement will mark the end of an era for Spanish tennis, as he has been a fixture on the ATP Tour for over 20 years. His consistent performances and ability to challenge top players like Djokovic have made him a respected figure in the sport.

The details

Bautista Agut made his ATP Tour debut in 2005 and has since won 12 career titles, including his biggest triumph at the 2018 Dubai Tennis Championships. He reached a career-high ranking of world number nine in 2019 and has been praised for his ability to maintain a high level of play across all surfaces. In 2020, Djokovic acknowledged Bautista Agut's underrated status, saying 'he doesn't drop his level of tennis much at all on any surface' and is 'probably one of the most underrated tennis players that we have in the last five years'.

  • Bautista Agut made his ATP Tour debut in 2005.
  • Bautista Agut reached a career-high ranking of world number nine in 2019.
  • Bautista Agut won the 2018 Dubai Tennis Championships.
  • Djokovic praised Bautista Agut's consistency in 2020.

The players

Roberto Bautista Agut

A Spanish tennis player who has been a fixture on the ATP Tour for over 20 years, reaching a career-high ranking of world number nine in 2019 and winning 12 career titles, including the 2018 Dubai Tennis Championships.

Novak Djokovic

A Serbian professional tennis player who has been one of the dominant players in the sport for the past decade, acknowledging Bautista Agut's underrated status and consistent playing style in 2020.

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What they’re saying

“First of all, his style of play is just so consistent. He doesn't give away much at all. He doesn't make too many unforced errors. You can always expect him to play at that certain level. I mean, he doesn't drop his level of tennis much at all on any surface.”

— Novak Djokovic

What’s next

Bautista Agut will play his final season on the ATP Tour in 2026 before retiring from professional tennis.

The takeaway

Bautista Agut's retirement will mark the end of an era for Spanish tennis, as he has been a respected and consistent performer on the ATP Tour for over two decades. His ability to challenge top players like Djokovic and maintain a high level of play across all surfaces has made him an underrated figure in the sport.