Several Claim to Manage Stan Wawrinka?

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 31st January 2014

Several Claim to Manage Stan Wawrinka?

epa04048497 Stanislas Wawrinka, of Switzerland, during a training session prior to the Davis Cup World Group first round matches between Serbia and Switzerland at the Spens Sport Center in Novi Sad, Serbia, Thursday, January 30, 2014. The Davis Cup first round Serbia vs Switzerland will take place from January 31 to February 2. EPA/SALVATORE DI NOLFI |

A dispute appears to have emerged as to exactly who manages the commercial rights of new Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka, a heretofore unexpected worry for management of the modest Swiss who stunned Rafael Nadal to win his first grand slam title.

The first hint of problems came as the player’s manager Lawrence Frankopan released a “hands-off” statement warning away those whom he said also believed that they controlled some of the commercial rights associated with the 28-year-old.

“In the few days following Stan’s success at Melbourne Park it reached my attention that a number of concerns are currently stating they have agreements in place to act on his behalf. Therefore it is pertinent to state categorically that StarWing Sports is the sole and exclusive agency that is legally contracted to manage Stanislas Wawrinka business in all its’ entirety.

“As anyone in tennis will know, Stan is a very charming approachable and charismatic man who I think appeals to many brands and with his unique ‘Swissness’ will be a very interesting commodity to be associated with. He, through StarWing Sports, is open to any ideas but these should be conducted through the proper channels.”

The warning comes as another firm, Geneva-based Sponsorize which is said to have managed Wawrinka’s endorsement rights since last year, also looks like trying to join the party.

Wawrinka, the most unassuming of players who admitted that he never thought he could win a grand slam event – and especially take over as top Swiss from Roger Federer – has long had contracts Swiss financial institution Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (BCVN), which Bloomberg said pays 50,000 Swiss francs and 250,000 ($55,000 to $275,000) per year for the Swiss market.

He also sports a patch from Swiss company Fromm, which makes packaging machinery and has a corporate jet contract which proves useful in traveling to European tournaments.

No one is expected to be able to touch the $71.5 million raked in by Federer through last May, second highest in sport after Tiger Woods on $78.1, Wawrinka’s comparable figure was $11.2.

Out of the financial arena, Wawrinka, playing this weekend in Serbia along with Federer in the Davis Cup was greeted at Geneva airport by the mayor and a delegation from his village of St. Barthelemy north of Lausanne and needed a Federer-style police escort to get through adoring fans.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp, Laurence Frankopen, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Stanislas Wawrinka, Tennis, Tennis News