By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday December 30, 2022
He may be turning 38, but Stan Wawrinka still believes he has a lot to give to the tour.
Photo Source: Getty
Stan Wawrinka will turn 38 in March, but the three-time Grand Slam champion is not going to let his age, or his arduous injury past, get in the way of vision of finishing his career on his terms.
Does that mean Wawrinka, who is being coached once again by Magnus Norman as he makes his way back up the rankings after left foot surgeries in March and June of 2021, thinks he can return to Grand Slam glory like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have done in the past?
Not quite.
“I don't,” he told reporters on Friday at United Cup after sailing past Alexander Bublik in straight sets. “I think it's impossible to compare Roger and Rafa with the rest of the players. I think we are all different.
“I had the first big surgery in 2017. I came back to the top-20. I was playing at a really high level and I was really happy with that. Now I did another surgery. I'm 37 years old, 38 next year. I'm not getting younger. It's more difficult.”
But Wawrinka, who enters the season ranked at 148, does believe he has big results in him. He’s not sure how high he can fly, but he believes he can be a disruptive force on tour.
“I do believe I still have some big results in me,” he said. “I do believe I can win tournaments. I hope I will do this next season. Not sure which level of tournament, but as long as I enjoy what I'm doing, love what I'm doing, know that I do the right thing to be at my best, I will keep going a little bit.”
Asked what kept Wawrinka coming back for more tennis despite the constant adversity he has had to face, and he cited several compelling reasons.
“A few reasons,” he said. “The first reason is the fans. The emotion you get when you play."
Wawrinka said he felt it on Friday, as he produced inspired tennis to take out Bublik, 6-3, 7-6(3).
"Tonight was a great atmosphere. I really loved it. I think that's the first reason why. It's because I love the emotion that I can get. I'm sure the day I will stop playing tennis I will never find that emotion anymore.”
Wawrinka says the competitive fire is still a big part of who he is, and until it isn’t, he plans to play on.
“I love the game, the competition, to compete, I love the process to get there,” he said. “Even if it's tough, even if you have to push yourself, day by day I think it's something I really enjoy, to improve, to be at my best, and [to look for ways] to compete at the highest level.”
Though he doesn’t have a specific goal in mind, the Swiss believes his level is high enough to make headlines on tour, and he plans to enjoy himself on tour while he still can.
“I want to, for sure, want to try to be back in higher ranking,” he said. “I don't know where. It's tough to say. I'm really far back now, but my level is there. I know I can beat most of the players. I know that when I enter the court I am good enough now and fit enough to beat those guys.”