Roberto Bautista Agut, a former world No. 9, has announced he will retire from professional tennis at the conclusion of the 2026 season. The 38-year-old Spaniard shared the news in an emotional Instagram post, expressing gratitude for his 17-year career. He plans to cherish his final tournaments.
Roberto Bautista Agut revealed his retirement decision on Instagram, stating, “There are decisions that are not easy, but they are born from serenity and heart: the 2026 season will be my last as a professional tennis player.” The Spaniard, who turned professional in 2005, described his career as a dream and said he has given everything in practice and matches. “Now I feel the time has come to start saying goodbye, to enjoy every tournament differently and to end this phase of my life with gratitude for my beloved tennis,” he added. Bautista Agut thanked his family, team, friends, sponsors, and fans for their support over the years and vowed to savor every last point on court this season, where he has always felt happiest. He joins other veterans like Stan Wawrinka, Gael Monfils, and David Goffin in planning to retire at season's end. Bautista Agut has secured 12 ATP titles across hard, clay, grass, and indoor hard courts, with a particular strength on grass where he holds a 67.1% win rate. His first title came in 2014 at the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships in 's-Hertogenbosch, and his best Grand Slam result was a semifinal run at Wimbledon in 2019, where he fell to Novak Djokovic. Currently ranked No. 93, he remains the fifth-highest ranked Spanish player behind Carlos Alcaraz, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Jaume Munar, and Rafael Jodar. The veteran has struggled in 2026, enduring early exits in tournaments including the ASB Classic, Australian Open, Montpellier, Rotterdam, Indian Wells, Miami, Bucharest, and Monte Carlo Masters, where he retired injured against Matteo Berrettini. He skipped the Barcelona Open, likely due to fitness concerns, with the Madrid Masters starting April 22.