Wawrinka closes gap with countryman Federer
Having stepped out of the shadow of Swiss compatriot Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka looks to not only add another major to his growing résumé in the U.S. Open this weekend but also beat the 17-time major champion on his way there.
“In the last couple of years, Wawrinka has won two more majors than Federer,” Tennis Channel commentator Mary Carillo said. “The guy has got the goods.”
Friday evening the two countrymen — one arguably the best men’s tennis player ever and the other a veteran who has dazzled in a late-career renaissance — will meet in the U.S. Open with a spot in Sunday’s final at stake.
“I think the past three years, for sure, I’ve gotten closer” to his level, Wawrinka, 30, said Wednesday. “My level (has) improved a lot. I’m playing better tennis.”
Federer, the No. 2 seed, is playing some of his finest tennis under coach Stefan Edberg.
“I have worked on my game moving forward (in the court) and have been able to take the ball earlier,” said Federer, a fivetime winner here from 2004 to 2008. “I think I’m volleying better than I have the last 10 years.”
Federer and Wawrinka, just shy of four years apart, have known each other for some two decades.
Wawrinka won once in their first 14 meetings on tour but since has scored two high-profile wins, first in the Monte Carlo final last year and then in the French Open quarterfinals last June, when Wawrinka went on to win a sec- ond major in 16 months.
Wins such as that have given Wawrinka the confidence he can be among the best — and a belief (even against Federer) he could be the best. Or, at this point, the better of the two.
“It was difficult for Stan to play Roger when he was in his shadow,” said Carole Bouchard, a French journalist who covers both players. “But I think, since he’s been winning Grand Slams, I think now he feels like it’s OK to play Roger. I think he gets a little more nervous, but he doesn’t have that complex anymore.”