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Stan Wawrinka has already enjoyed a stellar year with a first Grand Slam title in Australia and a first Masters Series win in Monte Carlo, but the Swiss stylist says he is not among the top favourites for the French Open, which starts today in Paris. |
After years of living in the long shadow of fellow Swiss Roger Federer, Wawrinka suddenly stepped into the spotlight in Melbourne where he defeated both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to capture the first of the year’s Grand Slam titles.
He then beat Federer in the final at Monte Carlo in April to underline the threat that he poses on clay, a surface he grew up playing on in Switzerland and which brought him the French Open junior title in 2003. Early exits in Madrid and Rome, when he was suffering from a painful back, cast some doubts on his chances of winning consecutive Grand Slam titles, but Wawrinka said he is back to full fitness.
Asked if he was happy to assume the role of favourite for Roland Garros, Wawrinka replied: “The favourites, there is Nadal and Djokovic. They are far above the rest. “You can tell me what you want. It’s always going to be the case. When they’re on the courts, nobody else can beat them.
“I’ll be with Rog (Federer) just afterwards, just after them. I’m one of the favourites, but I wouldn’t say I’m the top favourite. I’m so far from Nadal, so far from Djokovic.”
Still, Wawrinka believes that the confidence in himself that he gained from his exploits in Australia will stand him in good stead in Paris. “The difference is if I were to play against them, I know that when I’m on the courts I can defeat them,” he said.
“As I always say, these players are outstanding, they’re exceptional. But the difference is if I were to play against them, I know that when I’m on the courts I can defeat them. It’s not because they are well above where I stand that I’m going to lose against them.”
Helping Wawrinka as well is the fact that he is at a career-high ranking of world number three which means he has a more accommodating draw in Paris. He opens with a tie against Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and should make it through to the last eight where seventh seed Andy Murray could be waiting.
If he gets that far, Wawrinka could possibly face the same closing scenario that he faced in Melbourne with a semi-final against Nadal and a final against Djokovic.
For the moment though Wawrinka said that he was simply concentrating on getting his game into place.