Wawrinka Is In Shock Winning Australian Open Over Rafa

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 27th January 2014

Wawrinka Is In Shock Winning Australian Open Over Rafa

epa04042186 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland in action during his men's final match against Rafael Nadal of Spain at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 26 January 2014. EPA/NARENDRA SHRESTHA |

Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka was still in a state of some disbelief two hours after beating the injured Rafael Nadal to win a first ever major title. And voicing his confusion he said: “I never expected to win a Grand Slam. I never dreamed about that because for me, I was not good enough to beat those top guys.”

Wawrinka has most certainly proved himself wrong and became the first player to beat both Nadal and Novak Djokovic over the best of five sets in the same Grand Slam tournament. But he continued” I still think that I’m dreaming. It’s strange feeling.

“I always try to watch the final of Grand Slam because that’s where the best player are playing and I’ve seen so many. Before today for me it wasn’t even a dream because I never expected to play a final and never expected to win a Grand Slam. And now I have done it.”

Today Wawrinka will rise to third position in the ATP World Tour rankings for the first time in his life be ranked above his close friend and compatriot Roger Federer, so becoming the Swiss No. 1. “For me he’s the best player ever,” said the new champion.

“He’s always texting me. Even if he lost, like at the US Open, he was the first person to text me before the match or after the match when I got to the semi-final. After winning here in Melbourne, I didn’t call so many people, my wife, my daughter, my sister. But Roger called me. I know that he’s really, really happy for me. He always wanted the best for me.

“I saw Roger winning so many Grand Slams in the past, so now it’s my turn to win one. I will need time to realize what I did in these two weeks.”

Wawrinka insisted he played the best tennis of his life to overrun Nadal in the first set of his 6‑3, 6‑2, 3‑6, 6‑3 win but found it difficult to come to grips with the events after the Spaniard halted play for seven minutes and 15 seconds for an off-the-court medical time out with trainer Hugo Gravis.

Although Wawrinka was angry and sought clarification from umpire Carlos Ramos and referee Wayne McKewen, he did not like the sound of massed booing for Nadal on his return, the crowd suspecting gamesmanship was afoot.

“I had to stay calm with myself but still to try to stay aggressive,” said the 28 year-old. “He was injured, but he was still trying a little bit. I started to be really nervous because I start to realize that I could win a Grand Slam. It was not easy.”

But Wawrinka did not feel good about the crowd’s reaction. “It was not that nice, especially as it was Rafa,” he said. “We all know that he’s a great guy, a great player and he’s always a really fair player. He always tries his best. He is always fighting.”

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