Wawrinka Is Ranked 3 On ATP Tennis World Tour

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 27th January 2014

Wawrinka Is Ranked 3 On ATP Tennis World Tour

epa04017783 A close up of a tattoo on Stanislas Wawrinka's arm of Switzerland in action against Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan during their first round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 13 January 2014. The tournament takes place in Melbourne from 13 to 26 January 2014. EPA/DAVID CROSLING AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY |

Stanislas Wawrinka could not believe his new position as third in the ATP rankings after beating wounded Rafael Nadal to surprise the tennis world with an Australian Open title. The 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 thriller, with Nadal nursing a back problem from the start and almost quitting the match in tears will go down as one of the major shocks of any season. Wawrinka, 28, had lost a dozen previous matches to the all-conquering Spaniard.

“To win a slam, to be No. 3, both for me are a big surprise,” said Wawrinka, who now stands behind Nadal and Novak Djokovic in the ATP pecking order. “But I think (it’s more important) more to win a slam. In the ranking you can be number three without winning a slam.”

After driving a forehand winner into the corner on his first match point against Nadal burdened with a back injury, Wawrinka could not believe what he had done. “It’s an amazing feeling. I saw Roger (Federer) winning so many Grand Slam in the past, so now it’s my turn to win one. If you look the 10 past years, except del Potro (2009 US Open), it’s only the top four guys who were winning all the Grand Slams.

“I will need time to realize what I did in these two weeks. Because at the end, even if Rafa was injury, I think I deserve that Grand Slam because I won against Djokovic (quarter-finals), I won against Rafa. I had an amazing two weeks, and I was playing my best tennis ever.”

The Swiss now enters every match with a new, winning mentality. “Before today, I always said that that except for Roger, Rafa, Novak, you always lose every week in tennis. It’s tough to get through and to take a positive from a loss, from failing from a tournament.

“That’s how I see, in general, my career. I always go back to the court. I always go back to practice to try to improve myself and to give me all the chance to beat the best player in the world.”

Wawrinka said that Federer is always among the first to text him or get in touch after big matches despite the result.

“Even if he lost, like in the US Open (fourth round), he was the first person to text me before the match or after the match. (Here) I didn’t call so many persons: my wife, my daughter, my sister, and Roger called me. It was nice for me. I know that he’s really, really happy for me. He always wanted the best for me.”

Topics: 10sballs, Atp, Australian Open, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sports, Stanislas Wawrinka, Tennis, Tennis News