Zardoz7/12
Hall of Fame
He's nearly 38, he only recently re-entered the top 100, he's moving up the rankings and I would say a top 30 finish is on the cards this year for Wawrinka, it's a massive achievement given he returned in Rome last year after a lengthy injury layoff with left Foot issues resulting in surgery. He also had a career threatening knee issue after his grueling fight with Andy Murray at the French Open in 2017, where both players were never the same afterwards.
Those of us who've followed tennis for at least 20 years have known of him, it wasn't until 2008 when he reached his first masters final, at Rome where he lost to Djokovic. People forget that Stan entered the top ten in 2008, getting to 9th in the World, it was a brief entry and his ranking until 2013 was basically hovering in and out of the top 20. Before 2013 he reached 2 slam quarter finals, US Open 2010 and the Australian Open in 2011. He beat Andy Murray on the way to his US Open 2010 quarter final.
He bloomed late, he was 27/28 when we first saw the "Stanimal" at the Australian Open in 2013, Magnus Norman who turned also turned Soderling's career around became Wawrinka's coach. Wawrinka's tussles with Djokovic became legendary.
His "peak" which showed on his winning percentages and titles was from the Australian Open 2013 to the French Open 2017 where he won 3 slams (Australian Open 2014, French Open 2015, US Open 2016) and was a runner up at the French Open in 2017 vs a resurgent Nadal. He also won his 1 and only masters title, Monte Carlo Masters in 2014 beating his friend and rival Roger Federer in the final. Ultimately his 2017 knee injury ended his run, he made 3 slam quarter final runs between 2019/2020, he hasn't won a title since 2017 but he continues to hang and beat the very best Tennis has to offer. Here's some matches:
I respect his contribution to Tennis, never had an issue, always enjoyed him pummeling players and he is solid at the net also, with Magnus Norman, Wawrinka has squeezed every ounce of ability and talent he has, many players didn't do that whilst having an abundance of talent, take Fognini for example. No doubt he'll make the tennis hall of fame.
Those of us who've followed tennis for at least 20 years have known of him, it wasn't until 2008 when he reached his first masters final, at Rome where he lost to Djokovic. People forget that Stan entered the top ten in 2008, getting to 9th in the World, it was a brief entry and his ranking until 2013 was basically hovering in and out of the top 20. Before 2013 he reached 2 slam quarter finals, US Open 2010 and the Australian Open in 2011. He beat Andy Murray on the way to his US Open 2010 quarter final.
He bloomed late, he was 27/28 when we first saw the "Stanimal" at the Australian Open in 2013, Magnus Norman who turned also turned Soderling's career around became Wawrinka's coach. Wawrinka's tussles with Djokovic became legendary.
His "peak" which showed on his winning percentages and titles was from the Australian Open 2013 to the French Open 2017 where he won 3 slams (Australian Open 2014, French Open 2015, US Open 2016) and was a runner up at the French Open in 2017 vs a resurgent Nadal. He also won his 1 and only masters title, Monte Carlo Masters in 2014 beating his friend and rival Roger Federer in the final. Ultimately his 2017 knee injury ended his run, he made 3 slam quarter final runs between 2019/2020, he hasn't won a title since 2017 but he continues to hang and beat the very best Tennis has to offer. Here's some matches:
I respect his contribution to Tennis, never had an issue, always enjoyed him pummeling players and he is solid at the net also, with Magnus Norman, Wawrinka has squeezed every ounce of ability and talent he has, many players didn't do that whilst having an abundance of talent, take Fognini for example. No doubt he'll make the tennis hall of fame.
