Top
Stan Wawrinka Australian Open
Tennis News

What players can learn from Stan


“Before the final, I was really nervous like never before,” he said. “I was shaking in the locker. When we start five minutes before the match talking, last few things with Magnus [Norman, his coach], I started to cry. I was completely shaking”, said Wawrinka

But by the time Wawrinka got on court he managed to compose himself. He had a total belief in his game.

“The only thing I was convinced with myself that my game was there. Physically I was there. My game was there. Put the fight on the court and you will have a chance to win. And that’s what happened after few games when I started to believe in myself, started to be in the match.”

Having played nearly 18 hours of matchplay in the six matches leading to the final Wawrinka was ready to go though some pain to win, because losing was simply not an option.

“If you want to beat the No.1 player in the world, you have to give everything. You have to accept to suffer and you have almost to enjoy suffering. Because I think this Grand Slam was the most painful, physically and mentally, that I ever played.”

Wawrinka said that going into the match he thought: “I don’t want to come to the court and lose a final. So close, so far. So maybe it’s the reason why I was feeling so nervous.”

And if anyone wants the bottom line on the secret of his composure, he said: “I had to put my shit together” – apologising for the language, but it may be the best piece of advice the 2016 US Open champion could give to any player before a big match.

The morning after the night before the Swiss player was at a photo shoot at the top of the Rockefeller Center in New York. Amidst all the cameras and the attention, like most mortal players he still wanted a selfie.

Can the 2016 US Open Champion let us know how he managed to hold that trophy with one hand?


By
0

Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.