After reaching the semi-finals in his past three appearances at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, Stan Wawrinka is ready to take the next step and make it to the title match.
The World No. 3 and reigning US Open champion is back at The O2 in London for the fourth straight year. Wawrinka has had plenty of high moments this season and said that returning to London is the reward for his hard work on and off the court.
“This is an amazing tournament for every player. It was always a dream for me to play in this tournament, so to finish my year playing here is very enjoyable,” said Wawrinka. “It was my goal at the beginning of the year to make it back, so I’m pleased to be here and I want to make the most of it.
His London campaign kicks off on Monday against Kei Nishikori. Both players are in Group John McEnroe, along with World No. 1 Andy Murray and Marin Cilic.
Wawrinka leads his FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry against Nishikori 4-2, with both players splitting the two matches they’ve contested this season. Nishikori prevailed in the semi-finals of the Rogers Cup in Toronto, but Wawrinka gained revenge with a semi-final win at the US Open.
“He’s a tough player,” said Wawrinka. “The conditions here are very fast, so it’s important for me to try and be aggressive, put a lot of pressure on him and push him back. I need to try and make it a physical battle.”
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The Swiss star’s outstanding season has also included ATP World Tour titles in Chennai, Dubai and Geneva, in addition to a runner-up showing in St. Petersburg and a semi-final finish at Roland Garros. Twelve of his 15 ATP World Tour titles have come since bringing former World No. 2 Magnus Norman on as a coach in April 2013.
Wawrinka was hopeful that the laid-back Swede, the 2016 Coach of the Year, will remain in his corner for the rest of his career.
“It’s always a challenge for a coach to find the best way to make the most of a player,” said Wawrinka. “He’s tough, but I’m also tough on myself. We’ve been working really well together so far and have had some amazing results, so hopefully we can keep working for a few more years.”
Like everyone watching this year’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, Wawrinka is eager to see how the battle for year-end No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings will play out between Murray and Novak Djokovic. He referred to the Brit as a “great player and a great person” and said that his ascension to the top of men's professional tennis can only benefit the sport.
But after seeing Murray move to World No. 1, does Wawrinka believe he can achieve that feat as well?
“I’m very far from being No. 1. If you look at their records, they’re playing in the final of every tournament they play, so it’s not something I’m thinking about now,” said Wawrinka. “But three Grand Slams in three years is something that I didn’t expect. I’m very happy with where I am now.”