Wawrinka Still Has Hopes of Playing In London This Month

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 4th October 2013

Wawrinka Still Has Hopes of Playing In London This Month

epa03856759 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland watches a replay as he sits on the courtside wall while playing Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their semifinals round match on the thirteenth day of the 2013 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 07 September 2013. The US Open runs through Monday 09 September, a 15-day schedule for the first time. EPA/JUSTIN LANE |

Stanislas Wawrinka remains optimistic of booking his first spot in the season-ending event in London this month despite losing in a second-round surprise to Sam Querrey in Beijing.

The Swiss stands provisional eighth in the points race, at the moment holding the last spot in the field at the World Tour Finals. Standing one spot ahead as compatriot Roger Federer, who will play his only Asian autumn event at next week’s Shanghai Masters.

Wawrinka is boosted in confidence by his US Open semi-final, a run which included a defeat of holder Andy Murray. “I’m in a good position to make that push for London. But there are still a lot of points to take,” said the 28-year-old. “I’m not thinking about the finals. I need to really focus on my tennis and my game and the results will follow.”

The longtime “little brother” to Federer, Wawrinka is starting to break out on his own this season, which included a title in Portugal on clay and a Madrid final against Rafael Nadal. “It’s a dream for tennis players to finish in the top eight and play in the year-end finals,” he said as the season-ending countdown ticks louder.

“It would be something big amazing for me (to reach London). But the only thing I can really control is my game and how I practice and get ready for tournaments. That’s the most important thing for me.”

Wawrinka realizes that he and Federer may be the last Swiss men to threaten at the top of the game for some time. “We are all 28, 30 or 25 and we don’t have too many young players [coming in]. We’ve been here almost ten years now.” he added.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Shanghai Masters, Stanislas Wawrinka, Tennis, Tennis News, US Open, World Tour Finals