Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Wawrinka steadily moves out of Federer’s shadow
KEY BISCAYNE — More and more, Stan Wawrinka is moving out of the shadow of Roger Federer, his Swiss countryman and good friend. Wawrinka, the world’s No. 3-ranked player, took another step in that direction Saturday at the Miami Open by defeating Horacio Zeballos of Argentina in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4 in the second round.
Wawrinka, who turns 32 on Tuesday, is the No. 1 seed at the Miami Open, his first such honor in an ATP Masters 1000 event. He said that hasn’t changed his approach.
“For me it doesn’t change much to be a No. 1 seed or No. 4 seed or No. 3,” Wawrinka said. “It’s the same at the end of the day. You need to win matches.
“I know I can beat anybody, but I need to play well for that. I never played well here in the past, so hopefully I can change that this year.”
Wawrinka is a three-time Grand Slam champion, including last year’s U.S. Open. To Federer, considered by some to be tennis’ best men’s player ever, Wawrinka’s accomplishments are already remarkable.
“He’s had a legendary career,” Federer said, “basically a Hall of Fame career, really.”
Federer and Wawrinka won the 2008 Olympic gold medal in doubles, and they teamed to help Switzerland win its first Davis Cup in 2014.
During the opening ceremony for the 2012 London Olympics, Wawrinka carried the Swiss flag. Federer carried it the two previous Olympics, and asked that Wawrinka get the honor.
Wawrinka was runner-up to Federer last week at Indian Wells, the first Masters 1000 event of the season. And it’s possible Wawrinka and Federer could meet in the Miami Open semifinals.
Federer said he knew Wawrinka, regarded by some as Federer’s little brother or understudy, was becoming his own player when he stopped calling or texting before matches asking for advice on opponents.
“I think when Stan cracked the Top 50 I felt like he didn’t need as much guidance or as much advice, really,” Federer said. “When he doesn’t call you or text you before certain matches anymore, big matches, and he goes on to cause the upset or he goes on to do really well by himself with his team and his coach, that’s when you sensed he’s moved on, and that’s what you want.”
In the past four years, Wawrinka has won three Grand Slam titles —Australian Open, U.S. Open and French Open — while Federer has one.
But historically, the Miami Open hasn’t been one of Wawrinka’s best tournaments. His best finish is making it to the fourth round in 2009 and 2014.
“I don’t have any reason [for not playing well in Miami],” Wawrinka said, adding he’d never made it past the quarterfinals of Indian Wells until this year. “I took the confidence from Indian Wells. So let’s see. Maybe I can change that this year.”
Federer speaks well of Tiafoe
Federer, No. 6 in the world, defeated 19-year-old American upstart Frances Tiafoe, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, in a second-round afternoon match that concluded shortly before rain delayed the start of the night session. But the victory wasn’t easy.
“He sort of had me going there for a while,” Federer said.
Tiafoe, ranked No. 101 in the world, is among America’s best young talents and seemed encouraged by how he played.
“I really played some good tennis,” said Tiafoe, a Washington, D.C.-area native who trains in Orlando. “This really helps me a lot.”
Of course, that wasn’t Tiafoe’s sentiment when Federer chose to receive serve the first game. Tiafoe was, well, floored.
Some might recall Wawrinka jokingly using an expletive to describe Federer, regarded as one of the nicest guys on tour, after last week’s match at Indian Wells. Tiafoe, also joking, used a similar term to describe Federer.
“When he picked to receive I was like, ‘Wow, what an ass,’ ” Tiafoe said with a huge smile on his face. “I was like, ‘Just do not get broken the first game.’
“It was a good time. I’m not upset at all. I had some chances.”
Tiafoe seemed to earn a modicum of respect from Federer, who said: “I was actually playing very well and he stayed with me for a very long time … we both will walk away from this match actually quite happy, and that’s not so often in tennis.”