David Goffin announces retirement at age 35

The illustrious career of this Belgian tennis icon officially comes to a close.

The veteran Belgian tennis player David Goffin has officially announced his decision to retire at age 35 after the 2026 season concludes, ending a journey spanning over a decade on the ATP Tour marked by many memorable achievements.

In a video posted on social media, Goffin candidly shared the reasons behind this significant decision. "The years of competing at the highest level have greatly impacted my body. The knee injury I suffered last year was the decisive factor.", the Belgian player stated. According to him, not being able to maintain optimal physical condition made continuing to compete at a high level too difficult.

Beginning his professional career in 2009, Goffin once climbed to the world No. 7 ranking in 2017—the highest position in his career. He secured 6 ATP Tour titles and reached 9 other finals, establishing himself as one of the most consistent European tennis players for many years.

He is also the first and only Belgian player in history to reach the top 10 in the men's singles world rankings.

Although he did not win a Grand Slam title, Goffin still left his mark with deep runs at major tournaments. He reached the quarterfinals of Roland Garros 2016, Australian Open 2017, as well as twice advancing to the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2019 and 2022. At the team level, Goffin played a pivotal role in helping the Belgian team reach the Davis Cup final twice (2015, 2017), though they missed out on the championship both times.

The most memorable peak of Goffin's career was at the ATP Finals 2017 in London, United Kingdom, where he stunned by successively defeating legends Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to reach the final, before losing to Grigor Dimitrov.

Currently, Goffin is ranked 156th in the world, and his continuous struggle with injuries has prevented him from maintaining his previous form. Nevertheless, the Belgian player affirms he has no regrets about the journey he has undertaken.

"I have given everything to tennis, and this sport has given me more than I ever dared to dream. That is why this is a very difficult decision.", Goffin shared.