By Chris Oddo | Friday December 1, 2017
The three-time major champion is eager to begin his 2018 campaign, despite the lack of a coach and a knee that isn't quite ready.
Photo Source: AFP
Stan Wawrinka had to undergo two separate surgeries to his knee and is not quite 100 percent, he told reporters on Friday while speaking from Geneva.
“The last five months were the most difficult ones of my career,” Wawrinka said. “Even today I’m not 100 per cent yet physically and with my tennis. I’m working hard each day to improve. But at least it’s going in the right direction and I’m very satisfied with that.”
The 32-year-old hopes to play this year’s Australian Open, but isn’t totally fit and is not sure if his body will make it possible.
He says he is working on fitness with his trainer Pierre Paganini six of seven days and is apparently willing to play even if he isn’t at full fitness.
“The first surgery was arthroscopy to have a look at the problem and the second one was to reconstruct the cartilage,” Wawrinka said, according to ATPWorldTour.com. “It was very difficult and tough, a big surgery. I needed crutches for eight weeks and lost a lot of muscles because of that.”
In addition to his injury difficulties, Wawrinka also expressed disappointment about losing Magnus Norman as his coach.
"It was a big disappointment, a shock," he said of Norman’s decision to move on. "In the most difficult moments of a career, one should be able to count on the closest ones."
Paul Annacone, who worked briefly with Wawrinka at Wimbledon, might be in line for the job, but Wawrinka is as of yet undecided.
“Have some names on the list. Yes, Paul Annacone is on the coach list but I have not made a decision yet,” Wawrinka said.