Stan Wawrinka inspires Daniil Medvedev more than Big 4 because of ‘this’ reason

2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev wants to emulate three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka, who is yet to hang up his racket.

Stan Wawrinka inspires Daniil Medvedev more than Big 4 because of ‘this’ reason

Stan Wawrinka inspires Daniil Medvedev more than Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray (Images via X)

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka played the majority of his career during the Big 4 (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray) era and didn’t win his first Grand Slam title before turning 28. He lifted his first Major with a four-set win over Nadal at the 2014 Australian Open.

For Daniil Medvedev, Wawrinka is an inspiration. Medvedev lifted the 2021 US Open but was trophyless at the Australian Open despite reaching the final three times. He turned 29 this February and is hopeful to win more Majors just like Wawrinka did later in his career.

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I would say that maybe I like someone like Stan, who won his first (Grand Slam) when he was (28). And this is kind of more inspiring, because he was beaten by those guys from time to time, and he was like, ‘Okay, but I’m going to do it.’ And that’s what I want to do as well. As I said, lately my level has been a bit lower than I expected, but I know what I’m capable of.

Daniil Medvedev said during an interview with Khaleej Times

Wawrinka clinched the next two Majors at the 2015 French Open with a four-set win over Djokovic. The following year, he beat the 24-time Grand Slam champion in four sets in the US Open final.

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Daniil Medvedev to lock horns with Jan-Lennard Struff

Daniil Medvedev is in Dubai right now and is bidding to win his first title of the season. The Russian is the first seed in the ATP 500 event and is set to square off against Jan-Lennard Struff in his opening round on Tuesday (February 25).

Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev (Image via X)

The upcoming match will be their ninth encounter on the tour and Medvedev is expected to win the match as he holds a 7-1 head-to-head record over the German. In their last meeting, Medvedev, in the quarterfinals, knocked out the 34-year-old from the Open 13 tournament this year.

Before the Dubai Championships, both had participated in the Qatar Open. Struff suffered a first-round exit after a straight-set defeat to Tallon Griekspoor but Medvedev progressed to the quarterfinals and abruptly withdrew from the match after losing the first set to Felix Auger-Aliassime. He later revealed that he had a fever so he had to call off the match.

Medvedev, who was trophyless last year, is yet to win a title since the 2023 Italian Open. Struff, on the other hand, is searching for his second career title following the 2024 BMW Open.