Roger Federer is the celebrated mascot of Swiss tennis, Stanislas Wawrinka has long been confined to being the second symbol. On Sunday(January 26), all of that changed when the 28-year-old defeated world No. 1 Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to win his maiden Grand Slam, at the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Although Rafael Nadal was struggling with an aching back and was playing with a blistered hand, Wawrinka was at his formidable best too. After defeating defending champion Novak Djokovic earlier, the Swiss star looked in no mood to go easy on his Spanish opponent.
Ranked No. 3 after his triumph at Rod Laver Arena, the eight seed Wawrinka claimed the opening two sets with ease. Nadal was clearly struggling and looked in visible pain - taking an injury time-out as well. And while the Spanish hero made a valiant comeback to win the third set, Wawrinka wrapped up the match in the fourth and final set.
Having played in 36 five-setter in his career, Wawrinka was only too relived to have finally tasted a Grand Slam win. "The last time I was here, I cried. This year, I still don't know if I am dreaming," he said at the post match ceremony. "This is definitely my best Grand Slam and I would like to congratulate my team."
Wawrinka, who is now the lowest seeded player to win a Grand Slam title since Gaston Gaudio (unseeded) won Roland Garros in 2004, also took a lap around the Rod Laver Arena to acknowlede cheering fans.
It was a cheer well-deserved.
Wawrinka went past several heavyweights to claim the Australian Open title - victories against Djokovic, 7th seed big-serving Tomas Berdych and Nadal highlighting his journey Down Under this year. And it was an ode to how he has always played his game - with passion, hard-work, unparalleled dedication and a generous dose of modesty. "I am now ranked above Roger (Federer) but I still feel I am way behind him," he told spectators at the Rod Laver Arena after his triumph.
Known for his ferocious back-hand, legendary player John McEnroe once described Wawrinka as 'the man with the best one-handed backhand in the game today'. But it isn't something that he was born with.
Wawrinka took to tennis at an early age and such was his passion that he dropped out of school at 15 to better concentrate on the sport. He turned pro two years later, in 2002 and in just three years, the 6-foot player began searching for his place inside the top-50.
Currently ranked 8th in the world, Wawrinka has always shown full commitment and has tested champions and legends with equal intensity. For instance, he pushed seventh seed Ivan Ljubicic to four sets in the second round of the 2007 French Open before crashing out. In the same year, he reached the quarterfinal - his first in any Grand Slam - of the US Open.
While his previous best results in a Grand Slam were quarterfinals of Australian Open (2011, 2014) and French Open (2013), and semifinals of US Open (2013), Wawrinka is also a superb doubles player with a gold in the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Although Rafael Nadal was struggling with an aching back and was playing with a blistered hand, Wawrinka was at his formidable best too. After defeating defending champion Novak Djokovic earlier, the Swiss star looked in no mood to go easy on his Spanish opponent.
Ranked No. 3 after his triumph at Rod Laver Arena, the eight seed Wawrinka claimed the opening two sets with ease. Nadal was clearly struggling and looked in visible pain - taking an injury time-out as well. And while the Spanish hero made a valiant comeback to win the third set, Wawrinka wrapped up the match in the fourth and final set.
Having played in 36 five-setter in his career, Wawrinka was only too relived to have finally tasted a Grand Slam win. "The last time I was here, I cried. This year, I still don't know if I am dreaming," he said at the post match ceremony. "This is definitely my best Grand Slam and I would like to congratulate my team."
Wawrinka, who is now the lowest seeded player to win a Grand Slam title since Gaston Gaudio (unseeded) won Roland Garros in 2004, also took a lap around the Rod Laver Arena to acknowlede cheering fans.
It was a cheer well-deserved.
Wawrinka went past several heavyweights to claim the Australian Open title - victories against Djokovic, 7th seed big-serving Tomas Berdych and Nadal highlighting his journey Down Under this year. And it was an ode to how he has always played his game - with passion, hard-work, unparalleled dedication and a generous dose of modesty. "I am now ranked above Roger (Federer) but I still feel I am way behind him," he told spectators at the Rod Laver Arena after his triumph.
Known for his ferocious back-hand, legendary player John McEnroe once described Wawrinka as 'the man with the best one-handed backhand in the game today'. But it isn't something that he was born with.
Wawrinka took to tennis at an early age and such was his passion that he dropped out of school at 15 to better concentrate on the sport. He turned pro two years later, in 2002 and in just three years, the 6-foot player began searching for his place inside the top-50.
Currently ranked 8th in the world, Wawrinka has always shown full commitment and has tested champions and legends with equal intensity. For instance, he pushed seventh seed Ivan Ljubicic to four sets in the second round of the 2007 French Open before crashing out. In the same year, he reached the quarterfinal - his first in any Grand Slam - of the US Open.
While his previous best results in a Grand Slam were quarterfinals of Australian Open (2011, 2014) and French Open (2013), and semifinals of US Open (2013), Wawrinka is also a superb doubles player with a gold in the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
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