By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday Could 23, 2025
Paris – Stan Wawrinka has confronted the best gamers that his unimaginable era has ever produced. He has battled Novak Djokovic in Slam finals, and Roger Federer at Wimbledon. However one problem stands tall, above all of them, based on Wawrinka: dealing with Rafawel Nadal at Roland-Garros.
“I feel his outcomes converse for themselves,” the three-time Grand Slam champion mentioned on Roland-Garros media day. “In my profession, essentially the most super problem was dealing with Rafa on clay, particularly within the French Open. It is at all times been very troublesome.”
The Swiss went 1-8 in opposition to Nadal on clay, and 3-19 total. He remembers his final match in opposition to Nadal in Paris, a 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 drubbing within the 2017 remaining, vividly.
“I bear in mind the final match we performed, it was the ultimate in 2017,” he mentioned. “It was very troublesome. He is so assured, so sturdy. He is aware of precisely what he has to do when he performs on clay. It has been my largest problem ever.”
40-year-old Wawrinka is joyful to be part of the principle draw, even when he is aware of his Grand Slam successful days are behind him.
“If I take my age and my bodily situation at this time, I really feel very well,” he mentioned. “I wish to have higher outcomes. I feel I am doing what is critical. All the pieces is a bit longer. It’s a must to regulate. It’s a must to practice extra for outcomes which are inferior to earlier than. It’s good to relaxation extra to have the ability to practice extra.
“That is life as it’s. If I am nonetheless in a position to play, as I am 40 now, this isn’t so widespread. So I do know the place I am standing, I understand how difficult it may show to be. I feel it is a good problem to try to nonetheless have good performances at my age.”
2015 champion Wawrinka will face Nice Britain’s Jacob Fearnley within the first spherical in Paris.
