Stanislas Wawrinka Is Comfortable In Federer’s Shadow

Written by: Staff on 29th April 2013

Stanislas Wawrinka Is Comfortable In Federer’s Shadow

epa03668226 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland returns the ball to Jo Wilfried Tsonga of France during their quarter final match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 19 April 2013. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER |

Stanislas Wawrinka accepts that he will likely never escape the shadow of Roger Federer in the Swiss tennis hierarchy. But French-speaking Stan, second seed this week at the Portugal Open, accepts that “fate” without a problem.

Though his profile and personality are much more low profile than the world-beating sporting icon Federer, Wawrinka can count on solid support from his home public merely for the fact that he has been a Davis Cup regular for most of his career.

With world number two Federer, Davis participation has been hit or miss as the 17-time Grand Slam winner juggles a massively complex schedule and extends his career at gave 31.

Wawrinka says he’s not worried by always being known as the “second Swiss. “I’ve always been in the shadow, but I feel generally very good in my life and my career, “he told Zurich’s Tages Anzeiger before heading to Oeiras, Portugal near Lisbon to compete in the event where Spain’s David Ferrer is top seed.

“I’ve developed and grown – and that has not always been easy behind Federer. But I’ve had some great opportunities. And I’m on the same page as the greatest player in tennis history. I’m at peace with my career.”

Wawrinka did put out another pleas for Federer to join the Davis campaign in September’s World Group play off against Ecuador, a tie to which the senior Swiss will only commit to at the last minute, likely depending on his US Open performance.

“Myself and the entire team hope he plays. But in my opinion, we ought to be able to Ecuador or ewe don’t really belong in the World Group.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Roger Federer, Sports, Stanislas Wawrinka, Swiss tennis news, Tennis News