It’s been some year for Stan the Man. Such has been the growing profile—and confidence—of Stanislas Wawrinka since the start of 2013 that even his shoes now proclaim that proud name to the world: On the left foot “Stan”; on the right “The Man”.
His year started with one of the matches of 2013, one that almost put out the Australian Open defending champion Novak Djokovic—but the world No1 survived 12-10 in the fifth set.
Wawrinka reached the quarters at Roland Garros, the final of the Madrid Masters among three other finals, and won the Portugal Open. Indeed he put together more wins this year than compatriot Roger Federer, in whose shadow he has spent almost his entire career. And at the US Open, he advanced further in a Slam than Federer for the first time to reach his first Major semi-final.
Not content with pushing Djokovic to the limit in Australia, he then did the same at Flushing Meadows, leading two sets to one before losing another classic match in five.
“The Man” has put together a few more very significant stats this year, too, including a career-high seven wins over top-10 players, all since April: Along with Tomas Berdych twice and Andy Murray twice, his tally includes David Ferrer, Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Since taking up with new coach Magnus Norman, Wawrinka’s tennis has become more aggressive and more forward-moving, and his physical shape has grown sharper, faster and showing greater endurance. But his ranking success, as the tour has heads through the vital final qualifying tournament of the year for the ATP World Tour Finals, has come in large part from an enviable consistency—quarter-finals or better in 12 events so far this year.
Ahead of this week’s Paris Masters, he had already recorded a personal-best 47 match-wins, stood at a career-high No8 in the rankings, and had actually overtaken Federer—albeit briefly—in the race to the World Tour Finals.
Even so, he arrived in the French capital next in line to Federer for a place in London, and by the conclusion of his 49th match win, another fine 6-3, 6-2 performance over the No13 ranked Nicolas Almagro, he had made himself the outstanding favourite of the three men aiming to fill the two remaining places.
Already into his first Paris quarter-final, having just reached his first Shanghai quarter-final, a semi finish and his 50th win of the year would guarantee his first ever ticket to London.
In fact, he had put the ball very much into the court of his two rivals. Should either Richard Gasquet or Milos Raonic fail to reach the quarters, Wawrinka needed to do nothing else. As it turned out, Raonic was beaten by Tomas Berdych as the line-up for London was completed by the Swiss and the Frenchman.
Even so, this modest Swiss man would not be drawn: “’Almost’ means it’s not yet done. But it’s always a good thing to win those matches and of course to become closer to go to London.
“I’m very pleased for this match today, because not only am I playing to qualify for London, but I want to play and have a good tournament here in Paris…I know if I play well, I will be the one deciding my fate.”
He went on to talk of achieving what, for him, would be the crowning glory of the crowning year in his career thus far.
“When I came on the tour, this was not my goal. It was maybe a dream. Now, after many years of work and on the tour, I have a chance to be able to go there. I’m very close. I really hope I will be able to experience this tournament and to have my own locker. It’s an incredible status.”
He has clearly heard something of the luxury that the elite eight get to experience: Not a communal locker room but individual accommodation—and individually monogrammed towels. One suspects his picture is already burned onto one of those doors.
Incidentally, compatriot Federer, who beat the No21 ranked Kevin Anderson to seal his own London place yesterday, beat the No23 ranked Philipp Kohlschreiber to also reach the quarters. It was a stylish, high-quality contest between Federer and the ‘Federer-lite’ German—slightly smaller both in physical stature and weight of shot.
Kohlschreiber’s tactics—all-court placement, a wide kicker serve finished with a first strike put-away winner, a sweet strike of a one-handed backhand and deft touch around the net—provided the usual entertainment between these two, and with the usual result, victory for Federer, 6-3, 6-4.
Before either Swiss thinks about London, though, there is the small question of the Paris title to decide, and both are now lined up for memorable quarters. ‘The Man’ will yet again face Djokovic for the third time in 2013, having taken the Serb to two five-set finishes. Federer will play Juan Martin del Potro, who has beaten him in their last three matches in the tightest of finishes—most recently just days ago in the Basel final.
ATP World Tour Finals 2013: Line-up
Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic
David Ferrer
Juan Martin del Potro
Tomas Berdych
Roger Federer
Stanislas Wawrinka
Richard Gasquet