In a sport where youth often reigns supreme, Stan Wawrinka is defying the odds and rewriting the record books. At 40 years old, the three-time Grand Slam champion has become the first player in his fourth decade to crack the ATP Top 100 since the legendary Roger Federer achieved the feat in 2022. This milestone comes after Wawrinka announced that 2026 would be his final year on the tour, making his resurgence all the more remarkable.
Published Feb 16, 2026
Wawrinka’s journey this season has been nothing short of inspiring. After a challenging 2025, where his wins were few and far between, he’s already secured five victories in 2026—a testament to his enduring skill and determination. His latest triumph came at the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam, where he advanced to the second round, propelling him from No. 106 to No. 98 in the rankings. But here’s where it gets even more impressive: Wawrinka is now the oldest player in the Top 100 since Federer briefly held the No. 97 spot in 2022, during his final Wimbledon appearance.
Federer, who was also 40 at the time, saw his ranking slip out of the Top 100 for the last time on July 11, 2022, when his points from the previous year’s Wimbledon quarterfinals expired. And this is the part most people miss: before Federer, the last 40-something in the elite was Ivo Karlovic, who was ranked No. 95 in December 2019 before dropping out in January 2020. Even Feliciano Lopez came close in 2021, but he fell just short, exiting the Top 100 a week before his 40th birthday.
Wawrinka’s achievement raises a thought-provoking question: Is age truly just a number in professional tennis? While the sport has long been dominated by younger athletes, Wawrinka’s success at 40 challenges that narrative. Could we see more veterans extending their careers and competing at the highest level? Or is this a rare exception in a game that increasingly favors speed and stamina over experience? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is a debate worth having!
