Press release: David Goffin announces his decision to retire from professional tennis.
27 March 2026 – In a video released today on social media, David Goffin (35) announced his retirement from professional tennis, after 17 years on the international tennis circuit. 2026 will therefore be the final season in Goffin's impressive career, during which he grew to become one of the very best male tennis players in the world. The high point of his career came in 2017, when he became seventh best player in the world. By doing that, Goffin made history as the first Belgian ever to have reached the top 10. “I have given my all for tennis and I've received more back from this sport than I ever could have dreamed of: the competitions, the victories and defeats, the emotions, the people who were with me throughout that entire period… Thinking of them is what has made the decision to stop playing professional tennis the most difficult one I ever have had to make.” Goffin's future is still undecided, but what is already certain is his desire to pass on his knowledge and experience to the next generation of tennis players.
David Goffin was only six years old when he first stood on the tennis court at Barchon with a racket in his hand. And at the age of eight, he was already travelling the world with his father to attend international tennis stages. He first entered the professional circuit in 2009.
His first major breakthrough followed in 2012 at the French Open (Roland Garros), where he reached the last sixteen, taking on Roger Federer. Though Goffin lost that particular match, he made a positive impression by putting up stiff opposition to his Swiss opponent. His achievement did not go unnoticed and marked the beginning of an international breakthrough.
An impressive career followed: six ATP titles in singles tennis, one in doubles, two finals in the Davis Cup and a final at the ATP Finals. Goffin's absolute best year came in 2017, when he reached the quarter finals at Wimbledon, played a key role in the Davis Cup final against France and successfully reached the final of the Masters in London. He reached the final by first beating both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in the tournament. In 2017, Goffin also reached his highest position on the world tennis ranking: number 7.
Feeling his physical limits
In 2025, following a period marked by injuries, David Goffin once again fought his way back into the top 50, which bears witness to his familiar perseverance and mental strength. But today, at the age of 35, the tennis star has come to the difficult decision that 2026 will be his final season. It will become the closing chapter of a career full of high points, but also injuries, finals narrowly lost and long periods of rehabilitation.
“All those years playing tennis at the highest level have taken their toll on my body. The knee injury I sustained last year in particular was a key consideration in my decision to retire from the professional game. What is more, I've spent the past twenty years living out of my suitcase, constantly travelling across different time zones, conquering jet-lag and continually needing to achieve on different types of court. After a while, this gets under your skin. It was becoming more difficult to recharge myself physically and mentally to the maximum. So there comes a point when you have to be honest with yourself.”
Documentary portrays David Goffin as we haven't often seen him before
When asked which moments in his career stand out for him, David Goffin doesn't need to think long and hard:
“The ATP Finals in 2017, where I beat both Nadal and Federer, are right up there as the high point of my career. As is the Davis Cup campaign that same year, the highlight of which was the final against France in Lille. My tournament wins will always stay with me, from my first title in Kitzbühel in 2014 to the ATP 500 title in Tokyo in 2017. But the time spent at the side of the tennis court, which I was able to share with my family, friends and coaches, is perhaps what I treasure the most.”
Right now, Goffin his working on a unique documentary that is following him during his special final year and in which he will look back at his remarkable career. Despite having rarely presented his full self before the media and the public for years, he has deliberately decided to be completely open in this personal and intimate documentary. The documentary will be broadcast in autumn 2026, shortly after his final match as a professional player.
What the future holds for David Goffin after that, is still unclear. His foremost wish is to pass on his tennis skills and to coach and inspire the latest generation of players. Other than that, he wants to seize the opportunity to discover new challenges outside of tennis. At the end of this year, together with his wife Stéphanie, he is planning to run a marathon, a dream that the couple have already shared now for many years. “But first, we'll need to put in quite a few more laps for a few more months. Literally.”
David Goffin's list of honours
- Born in Rocourt on 7 December 1990
- Professional tennis player since 2009
- Highest ranking – number 7 in the world
- 2015 and 2017: Davis Cup finalist
- 2017: Final at the ATP Finals 2017
- 2017: ATP Finals (London): victory against Roger Federer (semi-final)
- 2017: ATP Finals (London): victory against Rafael Nadal (group stage)
- 2017: Monte Carlo Masters: victory against Novak Djokovic
- 2022: Astana Open: victory against Carlos Alcaraz (number 1 at the time)
- 2025: Miami Open: victory against Carlos Alcaraz
Contact Darya Geleyn at Wavemakers PR to request an interview:
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