Class of 2026: End of a golden age
- Sean A'Hearn
- 13 hours ago
- 6 min read
There seems to be an influx of players retiring in 2026.
From a three-time Grand Slam champion to one of the most entertaining players to grace a tennis court, the class of 2026 features a tall order of talent stretching back over 20 years.
To help celebrate their careers, The First Serve spoke with tournament director and media spokesperson Peter Johnston, who shared his experiences and memories of each retiring player over the years.
Stan Wawrinka
The second most famous Swiss man in tennis.
Renowned for his gasp-inducing backhand and never-say-die attitude, Stanislas Wawrinka was a crowd favourite wherever he played.
Often lumped in with Andy Murray as an expanded version of 'the big three' of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, Wawrinka is the only player (outside of Murray) to have won multiple Slams in that fearsome era.
"Stan's incredible. His career tends to be overlooked in the wake of the big three," Johnston told The First Serve.
"His record of three of four Slams, and at one stage had won 11 ATP finals in a row back in 2014-16, along with an Olympic doubles gold medal, is extraordinary."
Johnston was equally impressed by Wawrinka's down-to-earth nature and drive to compete, no matter the tournament.
"(He was) always no fuss around an event. No entourage, happy to be just another one of the players. Happy to play qualies and low-level events if that's what it took," Johnston shared.
"[It's] great to see him lauded by the tournaments and players as he plays in his final year."
Gaël Monfils
La Monf, the flying Frenchman, Sliderman. However you described him, Gaël Monfils was a pure joy to watch on a tennis court.
The reason a lot of kids picked up a tennis racket in the mid to late 2000s, Monfils always lit up the court with his raw athleticism and entertaining style of play.
Perhaps not taking it as seriously (at times) as others, Monfils proved that you can have fun on a tennis court and still win. His highlight reel is also something to behold, featuring just about every shot in the book (and then some).
"Mr. Box Office. A must for any tournament promoter to have him play your event. What a talent, what an entertainer and what a career," Johnston said.
Reaching a career-high ranking of No.6 in singles and winning 13 career singles titles, Monfils may not have lived up to his potential, but that wasn't always the point, according to Johnston.
"The fans and especially the French would have loved to see him capture a Slam in his career, but he made up for it with all of the amazing moments throughout his decorated career," he said.
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Kei Nishikori
One of the very few players to beat Federer, Nadal and Djokovic not just once, but twice, Kei Nishikori was a force to be reckoned with whoever he came up against.
A pioneer for Japanese tennis, Nishikori was the picture of consistency throughout his career, reaching the quarter-finals or better multiple times at every Grand Slam.
"Kei's career has had a massive impact on the growth of the sport, not just in Japan, but everywhere he would play. He was a massive drawcard," Johnston shared.
Reaching a career-high ranking of world No.4 and claiming 12 career singles titles, he made history by becoming the first Japanese man to reach a major singles final in the Open era, at the 2014 US Open.
Like Wawrinka, Johnston believes Nishikori shares the same desire to compete on the professional circuit, no matter what level.
"Sadly, he's had to overcome so many injuries, but he has never backed away from grinding it out on the Challenger tour to rebuild his ranking time and time again," he said.
David Goffin
Another player with the rare feat of claiming wins over each of the big three, David Goffin was a consistent top 10 performer and Belgium's "greatest male player ever", according to Johnston.
The talented Belgian, a former world No.7 who won six singles titles in his career, was notably a finalist at the 2017 ATP Finals.
His breakout performance at Roland Garros in 2012 will forever be etched in the hearts of fans, where, as a Lucky Loser, he reached the round of 16, eventually falling to his idol Federer in a moment that highlighted his endearing personality and character.
Like Wawrinka, Johnston remembers Goffin as a humble and unassuming character on tour.
"Another one of the guys with no entourage, no fuss around the events," he recounted. "David just went about his business, racking up the wins."
Roberto Bautista Agut
"Mr. Smooth and Mr. Unflappable", according to Johnston, Roberto Bautista Agut was much understated and little discussed throughout his career.
The definition of a Spanish grinder with his power baseline game and ferocious competitiveness, Bautista Agut reached a career-high ranking of No.9 in singles and won a dozen singles titles.
Overshadowed by a few other brilliant Spaniards of his generation, notably Nadal, Bautista Agut nevertheless established himself as a steady force on tour for two decades.
"Regular top 10, superb mover around the court and hit flat off both sides, which was unusual for a Spanish player," Johnston remarked.
"Impeccable presence with that long-time Lacoste deal," he added.
Milos Raonic
A man who "led the charge for Canadian tennis", Milos Raonic had a simple but effective game consisting of a massive serve and a big forehand, which took him close to the top of men's tennis.
The former world No.3 became the first Canadian man to contest a singles Grand Slam final at Wimbledon in 2016, losing to Murray in straight sets.
Perhaps his most famous win came against Federer in the semi-finals of that same tournament, where he came back from two sets to one down to eventually prevail in five.
Unfortunately, a horrible run of injuries forced Raonic to play a limited schedule, but Johnston believes the big-serving Canadian was a "genuine top 10 when healthy".
Jamie Murray
A doubles specialist with 34 career titles to his name, Jamie Murray was a consistent performer across his 22-year career.
Despite his more famous brother taking most of the spotlight in Britain, Johnston believed Murray carved out a successful career of his own in a constantly evolving format.
"With all the changes in the doubles game, he always found a way and, like his brother, knew what the circuit was all about," he said.
Johnston recalled one particular quirk of Murray that stuck with him as a tournament director at Zhuhai.
"He used to come to Zhuhai each year, and the St. Regis is a cylinder-shaped hotel that is 80 stories high. He stayed in the second-tier hotel next door as he was scared of heights!"
Sorana Cîrstea
Sorana Cîrstea has had a stellar run since announcing her retirement at the back end of 2025.
The Romanian won a title on home soil in Cluj-Napoca earlier this year and continues to go deep in pretty much every tournament she enters. At 36, she is currently world No.18 — a career-high ranking.
Impressed by her current run of form, Johnston fondly remembers Cîrstea as an all-round nice player on tour.
"Sorana - what a way to finish off her career, playing her way back into the top 20," he proclaimed.
"(She was an) absolute delight around events. We gave her a wildcard in Hong Kong last October, and she played Kooyong a couple of times. She was always asking if the tournament needed anything."
Zarina Diyas
Announcing her retirement last month, Zarina Diyas is a former world No.31 with one WTA title to her name.
Spending most of her career on the ITF circuit and struggling with persistent injuries, Diyas has proudly flown the flag for Kazakhstan over the last decade, along with Elena Rybakina and Yulia Putintseva.
"(Diyas has) been a great ambassador for Kazakhstan tennis, which has boomed in the last 10 years," Johnston said.
Following a children's masterclass that Diyas hosted with the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation and Asian Tennis Federation back in February, Johnston believes she is "all set for a mentoring role for the next crop of Kazakhstan talent".
Anastasija Sevastova
In a career spanning 20 years, Anastasija Sevastova is best known for her 2018 US Open semi-final run, where she defeated defending champion and world No.3 Sloane Stephens before succumbing to Serena Williams.
The Latvian star peaked at No.11 in the world and, fittingly, earned 11 Top 10 scalps throughout her career.
Winning four WTA singles titles, Sevastova played a nuanced, varied brand of tennis that pleased the purists.
Latisha Chan
The second doubles specialist on this list, Latisha Chan, captured 33 doubles titles in her illustrious career.
Her banner year was 2017, winning 11 career titles — including two with her sister Chan Hao-Ching (Angel), and nine with Martina Hingis.
The highlight of that year was winning the 2017 US Open doubles title with Hingis. In doing so, she secured the No.1 doubles ranking, becoming the second player from Chinese Taipei (after Hsieh Su-Wei) to achieve that feat, a position she held for 34 weeks.
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