Improvements in Wawrinka's game

[PhrygianDominant]

Here is a highlight reel from the recently passed AO 2014

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6NEYZW6Smk

Here are some things I noticed, some of which have been discussed, some not:

1) Forehand Crosscourt
Stan has been hitting his forehand with a lot of pace from out wide at "smarter" targets. This stroke has historically been the weakness that pundits have harked upon, but it is clearly now a strength both crosscourt and in general

2)Movement
Stan has been moving more aggressively and more consistently with aggressive intent. His feet are busy and he covers a lot of ground where earlier he was stuck behind the baseline.

3)Net Game
Stan has come in to finish points really well this past tournament. One thing I was noticing is that Wawrinka rarely charges the net, he will wait until he sees his opponent hit on the stretch from behind the baseline and then move directly to the ball with no split step for a "flow volley". Could this be the new normal for net play?

4)Consistency
Stan cut down on his unforced errors. He hit more winners than unforced errors in every round of the AO outside of his QF with Djokovic; even there he was close. It is this willingness to wait for and recognize the right moment that has added immensely to his success against top rate opponents.

Conclusion
I have purposefully left out "mental game" because it becomes rather quickly a chicken and egg question, when compared to measurable and observable performance. I, personally, believe that these improvements come from his new mental strength, but that is almost impossible to quantify.

 

[SLD76]

for me

his fitness and strength have improved, letting him hang guys like djoker and nadal from the baseline, and blast a guy like berdych off the court.

dude is Iron Stan for real.

so yes, his stregnth, movement and fitness are better.

and the fh is improved.

 

[PhrygianDominant]

dude is Iron Stan for real

There it is

 

[Chanwan]

All great points and a great thread amidst a sea of sh**ty threads.

I more or less completely agree. Also on the mental part.
I think the key is that he now beliefs he belongs there.

He didn't expect to lose to Djokovic, he certainly didn't expect to lose to Berdych and he went out and played the by far best first time slam final since Delpo 2009 (Robin, Tomas and David could all learn something here - as could Murray pre-Lendl).

I think the two most prominent developments, I've seen in his game the last couple of years - apart from the belief - is his forehand, as you mention, but also his serve.
He's always had a good first serve, but now it's elite.
He raised his service games won from 80 % in 2011 to 85 % in 2013 (Fed's fell from 91 % in 2012 to 87 % in 2013, while his return stats remained steady at 26 %, so that shows just how much 4 % can do). Stan is 91 % for the year so far, but he's won every single match, so you can't really judge whether it will go further up this year yet.

Other than that - more steady, better movement, better stamina, less errors, picking his spots, having confidence.

 

[PhrygianDominant]

All great points and a great thread amidst a sea of sh**ty threads.

I more or less completely agree. Also on the mental part.
I think the key is that he now beliefs he belongs there.

He didn't expect to lose to Djokovic, he certainly didn't expect to lose to Berdych and he went out and played the by far best first time slam final since Delpo 2009 (Robin, Tomas and David could all learn something here - as could Murray pre-Lendl).

I think the two most prominent developments, I've seen in his game the last couple of years - apart from the belief - is his forehand, as you mention, but also his serve.
He's always had a good first serve, but now it's elite.
He raised his service games won from 80 % in 2011 to 85 % in 2013 (Fed's fell from 91 % in 2012 to 87 % in 2013, while his return stats remained steady at 26 %, so that shows just how much 4 % can do). Stan is 91 % for the year so far, but he's won every single match, so you can't really judge whether it will go further up this year yet.

Other than that - more steady, better movement, better stamina, less errors, picking his spots, having confidence.

Excellent pointing out the serve improvements, had overlooked it but it clearly makes a difference

 

[Stanimal]

Nothing left to say here. Consistency and mentality certainly come to the forefront. But serve, footwork, and fitness have all come a long way also.

Glad to see people noticing some good play; even if it did take a GS victory.

 

[Chanwan]

Excellent pointing out the serve improvements, had overlooked it but it clearly makes a difference

I talked to a Swiss journlist last year, who said, they never really expected Wawrinka to get as good as he got last year and that he was never perceived as that talented. I guess they're somewhat spoiled with Federer, but I was still surprised given how many things Stan has got going for him (enough for some to proclaim him the most complete player ever on these boards.....)

Anyhow - hope he can keep it up and keep challenging the top guys at the majors - and feel like he's one of them

 

[Vensai]

I suspect it might be a mental adjustment. He was capable of challenging Djokovic in their previous matches but lacked the last push to win them.

 

[THE FIGHTER]

his forehand took a big step forward in the beginning of last season, and it showed at AO2013. he did appear to be hitting it slightly smarter at AO2014, however. instead of relying on depth and power alone, he played the point and hit to wherever benefits him most more often, which is a better inclusion of his improved forehand into his game than last year.

consistency, net game, and movement are the more important improvements in his performance this year.

 

[merwy]

"Stanislas Wawrinka - Best Points @ Australian Open 2014"

The second point they show is a double fault from the opponent

 

[PhrygianDominant]

"Stanislas Wawrinka - Best Points @ Australian Open 2014"

The second point they show is a double fault from the opponent

Yeah, the video has some dumb moments like that. I don't remember the point but there are a couple that are important points but not necessarily good points. I only used the video because it is most of the tournament rather than just one match.

 

[PhrygianDominant]

Just bumping wawrinka threads

 

[sportsfan1]

Does this t-shirt outdo even the RG shorts, and would wimbledon allow it since "everyone" is wearing all white?