Tennis has seen some hugely high-profile retirements in the last few years, with some of the sport’s greatest-ever players calling time on their careers.
And whilst the ATP and WTA are both still in good hands with the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff all present at the pinnacle, there’s always an element of sadness seeing another star depart.
Serena Williams, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are just a handful of superstars who have recently departed tennis, and whilst not all will boast the same CV as these legends, this latest player has actually enjoyed wins over the latter duo.
The man in question is David Goffin, and he has today announced his retirement from tennis.
David Goffin announces his retirement from tennis at the end of 2026
In a video he posted, the Belgian tennis star shared highlights of his career, which has spanned 17 years.
And, speaking over it, he claimed: “Some decisions stay with you for a long time.
“I’ve given everything to this sport, and tennis has given me more than I could have ever imagined.
“The matches, the battles, the wins, the losses. The emotions. The people who were there through all of it.
“And that’s why this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life.”
Then, as the screen went black, the following message appeared: “This will be my last season. Join me on this journey.”
The greatest wins of David Goffin’s career
Goffin may not have won a Grand Slam title or claimed any of the sport’s elite prizes, but he was a hugely respected character on the ATP Tour during one of its most difficult eras to exist in.
And, it’s a testament to his talent that he was able to claim some huge scalps whilst also picking up six ATP titles and rising to a career-high ranking of world number seven.
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In fact, in a glowing endorsement for his longevity too, Carlos Alcaraz named Goffin as one of his most frustrating matches ever, with the 35-year-old beating the youngster in Miami last year.
This was one of 21 wins that Goffin claimed over top-ten opponents, with stars like Juan Martin del Potro, Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton all victims.
However, most impressively, he boasts wins over Novak Djokovic at Monte Carlo, Roger Federer at the ATP Finals, and Rafael Nadal at the ATP Cup and the ATP Finals as well.
