Wawrinka aims to emulate Federer and Djokovic
dubai — Only two players – Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic – have managed to defend their titles in the 25-year history of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Stanislas Wawrinka, the defending champion this year, certainly knows the tough challenge he faces to emulate a legendary countryman and a Serb he beat for his first third Grand Slam title at the US Open last year.
In fact, Wawrinka won the Dubai title last year without ever coming close to playing his best tennis.
The three-time Grand Slam winner was two points away from losing his first match to Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky. But the man with the most delicious one-handed backhand went on to play better in the next matches.
And despite winning the final in straight sets against former Australian Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis, Wawrinka admitted that he never found his best form in Dubai.
This time the Swiss is cautious as he launches his title defence against Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia.
“Of course, I first want to see myself starting well here. I am playing against Dzumur in Round One and I have never played him before. I am going to see how I am going to feel on the court and then I will take it match by match,” the world number three told reporters on Sunday.
Wawrinka did play some of his best tennis at the Australian Open in January where he lost the five-set semifinal epic to eventual champion Federer.
“It was a really great tournament for me. Making a semi-final was a big result for me as I was so close to yet another final. I think I played really well there,” he said.
After having won the Australian Open, French Open and the US Open, Wawrinka needs a Wimbledon title to complete the career Slam. “It is not a goal. It is already an amazing thing for me to have won three Grand Slams already,” Wawrinka said.
“Each one is so very special for me. Every year I am trying my best at Wimbledon and grass court season, but I have never played grass as good as the rest of the surfaces. I am still pushing for finding my best game on that surface, so we will see this year.”
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com