Stan Wawrinka Reveals Most Memorable Grand Slam Win: “Beating Him Was Truly Exceptional”
Former World No.1 Stan Wawrinka has won the Australian Open, French Open, and the US Open.
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Stan Wawrinka (Image via X/Roland Garros)
- Stan Wawrinka is playing in his farewell season at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
- He considers his 2015 Roland Garros victory over Novak Djokovic his most memorable Grand Slam win.
- Wawrinka has expressed a goal to return to the top 100 rankings before retiring.
Stan Wawrinka, who will be calling time on his career after this season, is playing at the Dubai Tennis Championships. After knocking out Benjamin Hassan 7-5, 6-3, the Swiss veteran has scheduled his second-round clash with Daniil Medvedev, in what will also be a clash of former Dubai winners.
Medvedev beat Andrey Rublev in 2023 to win the Dubai title, while Wawrinka clinched the trophy after defeating Marcos Baghdatis in 2014. The Russian ace, who knocked out Shang Juncheng in the first round, leads 3-2 in the head-to-head matchups against the 40-year-old.
Although Wawrinka is playing in his farewell season, he is not ready to slow down. In an interview this season, Wawrinka said one of his goals for the season is to become a top-100 player once again.
Wawrinka, who reached his career-best No.3 ranking in 2014 after defeating Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open, won two more Grand Slam titles. The following season, he defeated Novak Djokovic in the French Open final and beat the Serb again in next year’s US Open final.
Wawrinka, following his first-round match in Dubai, was asked about the most memorable Grand Slam victory. And he picked the one he won against the 24-time Major champion at Roland Garros. He said at the press conference:
It’s difficult to choose, but it’s also my role to answer that question. If I had to choose one… they were all special, but I would say Roland-Garros 2015. I grew up playing on clay, I trained a lot in Spain, and coming from French-speaking Switzerland, Roland-Garros was the tournament we watched the most when we were children. It’s also the one I won in the juniors in 2003. Beating Novak in the final there was truly exceptional.
Wawrinka has met Djokovic 27 times and has emerged victorious six times. The last time they faced each other was in the third round of the 2023 Wimbledon, which Djokovic won before he reached the final and lost a five-set thriller to World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz.
Stan Wawrinka talks about his friendship with Roger Federer
During his interview with Khaleej Times, Stan Wawrinka was asked about his friendship with Roger Federer. The Swiss duo won the 2008 Beijing Olympics by beating the Swedish pair of Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson. They also helped Switzerland defeat France in the 2014 Davis Cup Finals, winning their singles matches and the doubles match they played together.
I’m incredibly happy and lucky to have the time with him. When I arrived on the Tour, he was already at the top. I was younger than him. I was trying to achieve my own career, and I got so much help from him, and the fact that I was practising a lot with him, talking a lot about tennis. I’m incredibly happy and lucky to have the time with him. When I arrived on the Tour, he was already at the top. I was younger than him. I was trying to achieve my own career, and I got so much help from him, and the fact that I was practising a lot with him, talking a lot about tennis.
Stan Wawrinka said
Wawrinka clashed with Federer 26 times, winning just three matches. The 20-time Grand Slam champion was the first player from the legendary Big 3 to call time on his career.
Federer was in the stands of the Aviation Club complex during Wawrinka’s first-round match in the ATP 500 event in Dubai. At the press conference later, Wawrinka admitted that he felt some pressure while playing in front of the tennis legend.
Also read: Stefanos Tsitsipas Issues Update on Back Injury Ahead of Dubai Championships Title Defense
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