Stan Wawrinka knows how dangerous Novak Djokovic can be, but the three-time Grand Slam champion would still rather face the world No. 1 than buddy Roger Federer.
Wawrinka talks rivalry and his tennis heroes in a new interview with Haute Living's Deyvanshi Masrani.
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The man with one of the most electric one-handed backhands in the sport cites three classic one-handed backhand players as his tennis heroes.
"For me, there were a few players that I really admired like Pete Sampras, Pat Rafter and Àlex Corretja," Wawrinka told Haute Living. "It was really those three players that I always looked up to. I liked the way they were playing, the way they were champions, finding ways to win, and different ways to stay at the top of the game."
The three-time Grand Slam champion, who upset Djokovic in the 2015 Roland Garros and 2016 US Open finals, believes he matches up better with the Serbian baseliner, while familiarity with Federer makes for an uncomfortable match-up.
"I will say that Roger, I don’t enjoy too much to play," Wawrinka told Haute Living. "I enjoy the part that we know each other so well and that we’re good friends. That’s for sure. But to play against him, it’s always been difficult for me with his game.
"I personally prefer to play against Djokovic because I feel that his game is a bit better for me and I feel like I can control more of the game. But I like challenges, at the end of the day. If you want to be at the top, if you want to win the best tournament in the world, you need to beat [all of] them anyway. So, it doesn’t matter when you play them."
Wawrinka says Federer's support early in his career—combined with his late-career success—makes the 37-year-old Swiss an inspiration. The pair partnered to win the Olympic doubles gold medal in 2008 then joined forces again to lead Switzerland to its first Davis Cup six years later.
"For me it’s always been amazing to be in the same country as him. We have known each other for many, many years," Wawrinka said of Federer. "When I arrived on the tour I was still young, still out of the ranking. He really helped me a lot—I had the chance to practice with the best player in the world. He was number one and getting some tips [from him] and some help to get into the tour was great. We also played in the Olympics together and won the gold medal.
"So for sure it’s something really special. Also the Davis Cup…that we went to together—that was one my favorite moments in my career. So it’s always been special to be around him, to be with him, to be friends him and to play against him. It’s always been really difficult, not only because we’re friends but also because he’s the best player ever to play this game. And any player who is playing against him has always had some problem. But I think what he’s doing is unbelievable at his age, to still play that well—it’s something that other athletes can look up to too. He’s showing that physically, you can still be at the top, and like I said before, [stay] longer in your career."
Photo credit: Davis Cup