Australian Open 2024: Stan Wawrinka reflects on his Australian Open triumph and its impact on his dynamic with compatriot Roger Federer
Stan Wawrinka is almost 39, climbing the rankings and returning to the scene of his ‘big chapter’. He speaks to LINDA PEARCE about the secret to his longevity.
When Stan Wawrinka started out on the ATP Tour two decades ago, he was sure he would be retired at 30. When he won his first major at the 2014 Australian Open, he never imagined that, 10 years on, he would be — with Novak Djokovic — one of only two former champions in the men’s draw.
“No, I didn’t think that,’’ Wawrinka told CODE Sports ahead of his 16th trip to Melbourne Park, and Monday’s challenging first round against French 20th seed Adrian Mannarino on Kia Arena.
“Ten years ago I was already (turning) 29, now I’m going to be 39 (in March), but I’m happy where I am, I’m super happy to be still playing at that level, to be feeling good, to be here, to play another Australian, and hopefully I can go deep in the tournament.’’
Wawrinka returned to the top 50 last season after dipping outside 150 during an interrupted 2022, but the oldest player in either singles tournament insists that although he has thought about life after tennis — including “a different project that I keep for myself” — his mind is not on retirement quite yet.
“It’s a passion about the sport,” he says. “I still enjoy a lot about being around travelling the world, being in the biggest stage. I enjoy also the process to come back, to push myself, to try to still improve. I made the big step last year from 150 to 50, so hopefully I can keep on grinding.
“The fact that I feel that I’m still competitive, that I’m playing well, I’m feeling good on the court, I know that I can beat a lot of players, that makes me motivated to want to keep pushing myself. For me it’s not about my age, it’s about the way I’m feeling.”
While Djokovic remains near the peak of his remarkable powers, Roger Federer is now confined to the celebrity and sponsorship circuits and Rafael Nadal’s latest comeback lasted just three matches after a year away.
“Nadal … is always gonna be a special player. It was great to see him back in Brisbane playing well directly — unfortunately he got injured and so hopefully he can be back soon,’’ Wawrinka says.
“And we all know that when Rafa plays on tour he’s always gonna be really dangerous to go win tournaments that he’s playing.’’
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Back in 2014, Wawrinka was seeded eighth and the owner of one of the game’s biggest and best single-handed backhands and a forearm tattoo quoting Samuel Beckett’s famous line: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.’’
He had failed, just, in an epic five-hour semi-final against Djokovic in 2013, but returned 12 months later to take his revenge in the quarters after 15 straight losses against the three-time reigning champion, then upset an injured Nadal in the final, having failed to pinch even a set in his previous 12 attempts.
No man since Sergi Bruguera at the 1993 French Open had beaten both the world’s top two to claim a major, in what was just the second time since 2005 that a slam would be owned by a player outside the so-called “Big Four” completed by Federer and Andy Murray.
“I remember everything, of course,’’ says Wawrinka, who would reach a career high No.3 the following day.
“I was super-happy to be in the final, I was playing really good tennis, I was playing my best tennis. I start really well, then (Nadal) got a problem with his back, so he was struggling a lot and it was not easy for me to finish the match because the longer we play the better I start to play again.
“But I remember the emotion after the match, especially when you realise that you won the grand slam, you won the Australian Open, and then you have a chance to celebrate with your friends, team and family.’’
Clearly the start of something, Wawrinka would be crowned champion at Roland Garros in 2015, and at the US Open in 2016, it was also the temporary end to his status as the Swiss No.2 behind his friend, Davis Cup and Olympic gold-medal winning megastar teammate Federer.
“Of course a lot happens after winning your first grand slam, but to be No.1 in Swiss for me was never something important,” he reflects. “I had the chance to play more than 10 years around Roger … so many big memories together.’’
Despite winning as many majors as Murray, the dual Wimbledon and 2012 US Open victor does not feel he warranted more recognition, as a distant fifth member of any so-called ‘Big Five’.
“Oh no, Andy is far away in front of me!’’ Wawrinka says of the former No.1, owner of 14 Masters 1000s among 46 career titles, double Olympic singles gold and more.
“His career is incredible. I think he was unlucky to get only three grand slams but he got to so many different finals.
“I’m not at all at the level of what Andy achieved during those 20 years.’’
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The events of 2014, under Magnus Norman, serve as another anecdote behind the “time flies” message the respected Swedish coach imparts upon the next generation.
“You have to make the best of it every day, that’s what I tell the young players who are coming up and what Stan is telling the younger generation of Swiss players as well,’’ Norman, with whom Wawrinka reunited for 2023, told ATP.com recently. “You’re 16 or 17, then all of a sudden you’re 24 or 25. You need to make every day count.’’
Wawrinka has done so, says Norman, who admires his charge’s enduring work ethic despite recent injuries that included an ankle problem that curtailed his season, with lead-up events in Australia – including a cancelled cameo at the Kooyong Classic – deemed too risky on a shortened preparation.
“It will never be the same as it was 10 years ago. Our personalities have changed,’’ Norman continued. “But in a way, yes, it’s more enjoyable. He won three grand slams, Olympic gold, Davis Cup, amazing career. He basically won everything.”
Few achievements were more satisfying than in 2014, given his unusually advanced age for a first-timer, when Wawrinka knew he was already closer to the end than the beginning.
“But winning here was always going to be something special for the memory,’’ Wawrinka says of what will be a ‘big chapter’ in the story of his career.
“I think Australia, anyway, has always been special for me. The first time I came here was in 2003 for Davis Cup semi-final – was my first big event in a grand slam (venue), in a big stage, so there is many big memories that I can take from here.’’
If Wawrinka believes the next group of greats has already arrived in the form of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev et al, then Norman is confident the brilliant shotmaker still has the “tennis, fitness and mentality” to compete at the big events.
He has, after all, won multiple rounds at both Wimbledon and the US Open, reaching his first ATP final in over four years in Umag (losing to Aussie Alexei Popyrin) and claimed a top 10 scalp in Holger Rune at Indian Wells.
“I think he has everything to beat the top guys. From the physical aspect, as you get older the recovery takes a bit longer so you have to keep that in mind, play and practise a little smarter,’’ says Norman, maintaining that Wawrinka has evolved as a player since they first teamed up in 2013 for the start of the so-called ‘Stanimal’s’ golden period.
“He developed his game a lot, he can go to the net more, his returns are improving every month now. We said that at practice the other day, that he feels more comfortable hitting the returns instead of blocking it. He has more variety in his game. He’s been moving so well the past couple years.’’
When it eventually ends, Wawrinka will have no regrets about what he could have done to break through sooner, having taken his time to arrive, but noting so many young standouts who failed to achieve what Switzerland’s second-most accomplished male tennis player is happy and proud that he has.
Having enjoyed even the sacrifices and self-discipline required to endure for so long, there is much else Wawrinka will be sad to farewell when the moment comes.
“I will miss the competition. I will miss playing in the biggest stage in the best tournaments. I will miss the fans, the emotion you get when you play, the emotion you get before the match, after the match, sad or happy,’’ he says.
“I will miss the process to push myself, to find a way how to be a better player, how to improve. So I will miss for sure the full package of the tennis life.’’
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