Kralingen
Talk Tennis Guru
After watching Zverev (sort of) overpower Djokovic for a set and a half last night, I was immediately reminded of the king, the OG of blasting Djokovic off the court, Stan Wawrinka.
have a look at this, if you’re unfamiliar:
I believe he has the most heavily underrated peak level on TTW. Only ranked as a clay specialist, or someone who could win over a subpar Djokovic, is way, way underrating him.
Let's start with the usual negatives. Stan is an inconsistent player, he peaked at around age 29, his peak lasted 4-ish years and had lows. He has a 6-19 record vs. Djokovic, 3-19 vs. Nadal, 3-23 vs. Federer. The H2Hs speak for themselves. He had issues with fitness, motivation, mental strength, and sheer talent throughout his career. He was the opposite of a fast court player, being unable to compete at faster courts like Cincinnati, WTF finals, and of course Grass in Wimbledon. However, Stan is a unicorn. a Modern Era anomaly, a slow court specialist. It was only customary that a specialist would emerge perfect for the mid-10s slower conditions.
However, does anyone deride Becker or Edberg because of their largely crap records on clay? Wawrinka is something of a modern era creation - a true Slow Court specialist.
Stan stepped up. His prime (2013-16) can stand up to anyone's in the mid-10s baselining era. It's time to start viewing it historically, these happened over 5 years ago. Stan is a historic phenomenon. Tired of people treating him as inferior to Safin, Hewitt, Bruguera etc. He has an incredible resume at his peak, and a unique journey to get there.
Magnus Norman ignited the light in Stan. a prolific underachiever, after 2008-12 he was lost. Overpowered and outmaneuvered by GOATs, he was a forgotten man. Then he hires Magnus Norman in late 2012. The rest, as they say, is history.
AO 2013: Stan-Djokovic match. If you haven't watched it recently, rewatch it. One of the great AO matches, and modern HC matches, of all time. 11-10 Novak in the 5th after a much disputed line call that could have given Stan a break in a crucial match. Djokovic's form in this tournament is underrated. His SF blows everything but the absolute best of the slower HC era off the charts. What a match. Stan proving he belonged.
Clay 2013: only lost to Nadal (Madrid final) and RG (Nadal again) - he took his lumps here, but learned his playstyle against Nadal
USO 2013: beats defending Champ, and reigning Wimbledon champ, Murray, in straight sets. Before he had beaten #5 Berdych. Underrated tournament. Takes '13 Djokovic to 5, proving the AO performance was far from a fluke. Great match, underrated all time.
AO 2014: we all know what comes next. Finally triumphs over resilient Djokovic in 5 at AO and proceeds to give Nadal a beating, 6-2, 6-3 before Rafa's MTO and subsequent low level. Rafa was injured, yes, but go rewatch. Stan was blowing almost anyone off the court that tournament. Incredible ball striking.
Clay 2014: finally notches his first win against Federer in the MC final, and lo and behold it's a slow surface. He beat '14 Federer and is the sole reason Roger has never won MC. Great level from Stan, underrated match.
Grass 2014: Stan lost momentum, losing early at RG. However, he made QFs at Wimbledon, taking Federer to four close (he could have won set 3) sets. A turning point for Stan
Indoor 2014: Stan wins enough to get to SFs against Federer in YEC on faster indoor and holds MPs before losing to Fed in a close 3 setter. He had chances. After this, Wawrinka wins Davis Cup with Switzerland with a clutch win in the finals vs. France.
Overall record v. Fedalovic 2013-14 : 3-11. 3 matches won: Federer in MC final 2014, Djokovic in AO QF 2014, Nadal in AO F 2014. What do you notice? slow court wins in finals or Slams vs. the Big 3? hmm.
AO 2015: SF loss to 2015 (regarded peak Djokovic) Novak in 5. he pushed hard in this match.
Clay 2015: Raises his level to win iconic RG over Djokovic in 4. No introduction needed. second signature win over incredible clay/slow court Djokovic. Oh, and he beat 2015 Fed too. In straights. After Federer beat him in rome. 2-0 vs. Federer in big Clay matches '14-15.
Indoor 2015: after bad loss to Fed at the USO, Wawrinka beats Nadal at Paris Masters and has a close match with Djokovic in 3 sets.
2016 was marred by injury but he made '16 RG SF and won the '16 USO beating Djokovic once again.
Stan '13-16 vs. Nadal on slower court: 2-1
Stan '13-16 vs. Djokovic on slower court: 2-2 (3-3 if you include USO/Paris
Stan '13-16 vs. Federer on slower court: 2-2
Stan '13-16 vs. Murray on slower court: 2-1 (would be 3-1 if we count RG '17
Stan proved he was everyone's equal on clay/slower courts in his prime/peak. He did it the truly hard way for all of his 3 slams, defeating 5 Big 3 players along the way, and one each, at every Slam he won.
Give him his flowers. Most underrated peak on TTW. Watch this video then tell me you disagree:
have a look at this, if you’re unfamiliar:
I believe he has the most heavily underrated peak level on TTW. Only ranked as a clay specialist, or someone who could win over a subpar Djokovic, is way, way underrating him.
Let's start with the usual negatives. Stan is an inconsistent player, he peaked at around age 29, his peak lasted 4-ish years and had lows. He has a 6-19 record vs. Djokovic, 3-19 vs. Nadal, 3-23 vs. Federer. The H2Hs speak for themselves. He had issues with fitness, motivation, mental strength, and sheer talent throughout his career. He was the opposite of a fast court player, being unable to compete at faster courts like Cincinnati, WTF finals, and of course Grass in Wimbledon. However, Stan is a unicorn. a Modern Era anomaly, a slow court specialist. It was only customary that a specialist would emerge perfect for the mid-10s slower conditions.
However, does anyone deride Becker or Edberg because of their largely crap records on clay? Wawrinka is something of a modern era creation - a true Slow Court specialist.
Stan stepped up. His prime (2013-16) can stand up to anyone's in the mid-10s baselining era. It's time to start viewing it historically, these happened over 5 years ago. Stan is a historic phenomenon. Tired of people treating him as inferior to Safin, Hewitt, Bruguera etc. He has an incredible resume at his peak, and a unique journey to get there.
Magnus Norman ignited the light in Stan. a prolific underachiever, after 2008-12 he was lost. Overpowered and outmaneuvered by GOATs, he was a forgotten man. Then he hires Magnus Norman in late 2012. The rest, as they say, is history.
AO 2013: Stan-Djokovic match. If you haven't watched it recently, rewatch it. One of the great AO matches, and modern HC matches, of all time. 11-10 Novak in the 5th after a much disputed line call that could have given Stan a break in a crucial match. Djokovic's form in this tournament is underrated. His SF blows everything but the absolute best of the slower HC era off the charts. What a match. Stan proving he belonged.
Clay 2013: only lost to Nadal (Madrid final) and RG (Nadal again) - he took his lumps here, but learned his playstyle against Nadal
USO 2013: beats defending Champ, and reigning Wimbledon champ, Murray, in straight sets. Before he had beaten #5 Berdych. Underrated tournament. Takes '13 Djokovic to 5, proving the AO performance was far from a fluke. Great match, underrated all time.
AO 2014: we all know what comes next. Finally triumphs over resilient Djokovic in 5 at AO and proceeds to give Nadal a beating, 6-2, 6-3 before Rafa's MTO and subsequent low level. Rafa was injured, yes, but go rewatch. Stan was blowing almost anyone off the court that tournament. Incredible ball striking.
Clay 2014: finally notches his first win against Federer in the MC final, and lo and behold it's a slow surface. He beat '14 Federer and is the sole reason Roger has never won MC. Great level from Stan, underrated match.
Grass 2014: Stan lost momentum, losing early at RG. However, he made QFs at Wimbledon, taking Federer to four close (he could have won set 3) sets. A turning point for Stan
Indoor 2014: Stan wins enough to get to SFs against Federer in YEC on faster indoor and holds MPs before losing to Fed in a close 3 setter. He had chances. After this, Wawrinka wins Davis Cup with Switzerland with a clutch win in the finals vs. France.
Overall record v. Fedalovic 2013-14 : 3-11. 3 matches won: Federer in MC final 2014, Djokovic in AO QF 2014, Nadal in AO F 2014. What do you notice? slow court wins in finals or Slams vs. the Big 3? hmm.
AO 2015: SF loss to 2015 (regarded peak Djokovic) Novak in 5. he pushed hard in this match.
Clay 2015: Raises his level to win iconic RG over Djokovic in 4. No introduction needed. second signature win over incredible clay/slow court Djokovic. Oh, and he beat 2015 Fed too. In straights. After Federer beat him in rome. 2-0 vs. Federer in big Clay matches '14-15.
Indoor 2015: after bad loss to Fed at the USO, Wawrinka beats Nadal at Paris Masters and has a close match with Djokovic in 3 sets.
2016 was marred by injury but he made '16 RG SF and won the '16 USO beating Djokovic once again.
Stan '13-16 vs. Nadal on slower court: 2-1
Stan '13-16 vs. Djokovic on slower court: 2-2 (3-3 if you include USO/Paris
Stan '13-16 vs. Federer on slower court: 2-2
Stan '13-16 vs. Murray on slower court: 2-1 (would be 3-1 if we count RG '17
Stan proved he was everyone's equal on clay/slower courts in his prime/peak. He did it the truly hard way for all of his 3 slams, defeating 5 Big 3 players along the way, and one each, at every Slam he won.
Give him his flowers. Most underrated peak on TTW. Watch this video then tell me you disagree:
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