Roberto Bautista Agut has announced his intention to retire from tennis at the end of the 2026 season. Taking to social media just two days after his birthday to issue an emotional statement, the 38-year-old is calling time on a professional career that has spanned across three different decades.
The Spaniard turned professional in 2005 and has competed on the ATP Tour ever since, with Bautista Agut reaching a career high of ninth in the world rankings. He’s racked up a total just under £15million in prize money throughout his career, which puts him 37th in the all-time list of earners in the Open Era.
Posting on social media, he said: “There are decisions that aren’t easy, but they come from serenity and the heart: the 2026 season will be my last as a professional tennis player.
“I’ve lived my dream for many years. I’ve given everything I had in every training session and every match. Now I feel the time has come to start saying goodbye, to enjoy each tournament in a different way, and to close this chapter with gratitude for my beloved tennis.
“I want to live every last point this year. To feel the support of the people, to compete one more time in the tournaments that have been a part of my life, and to say goodbye on the court, which is where l’ve always been happiest.”
Bautista Agut’s best performance at a Grand Slam came at Wimbledon in 2019, when the Castellon de la Plana-born ace reached the semi-finals. He was beaten by eventual champion Novak Djokovic, and only made it as far as the fourth round thereafter.
That same year, he’d already recorded his best-ever Australian Open performance, having reached the quarter-finals of the Slam down under. There was no such luck at the French or US Opens though, as he never progressed beyond the fourth round of those.
Bautista Agut signed his statement off with: “Thank you to my family, my team, my friends, my sponsors, and everyone who has been there for me during these years. And thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all the fans who have supported me every step of the way. #HastaE|UltimoPunto, Roberto.”
He reached one ATP 1000 final during his career, but lost out to Andy Murray at the 2016 Shanghai Masters. Bautista Agut’s only ATP 500 final ended in victory at the 2018 Dubai Tennis Championships, while he won 11 out of the 21 ATP 500 finals he reached.