WIMBLEDON: Three-time grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka has insisted that he is pleased with his current level of play after crashing out in the second round at Wimbledon.
Wawrinka, who was the 22nd seed in the draw, crashed out in a five-set epic to fast-serving American Reiley Opelka. The Swiss player had a two-sets-to-one advantage during the clash before crashing out 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 8-6. Seeing 23 aces and 59 winners being blasted past him.
“I think was a tough match to lose, that’s for sure. I had some chances. I started a little bit slow.” Said Wawrinka, who failed to convert 10 out of his 12 break point opportunities.
“I was hesitating a bit, not really moving well enough. I started to play way better and had some chances in the fourth set. I could have done better.’
“At the end, he (Opelka) went for it. He went bigger than me and he deserved to win.”
A former two-time quarter-finalist at The All England Club, Wawrinka has now failed to win back-to-back matches at the tournament for four years in a row. His career win-loss record on the grass now stands at 31-31.
Despite his loss to Opelka, who is in the third round of a grand slam for the first time in his Wimbledon debut, there are positives. Earlier this year the Swiss player reached the final of the Rotterdam Open. Then at Roland Garros, he reached the quarter-finals in what was his best performance at a grand slam since undergoing knee surgery in 2017.
“I’m really happy with the way I’m playing. I’m not thinking about the full season, what I want to do every tournament, week after week. I’m just trying to go day by day, focusing on what I want to improve, what I want to achieve.” He said.
“Hopefully I can keep playing well. I think I’m playing great tennis’
“Today it’s a tough loss, that’s for sure. But now it’s just a tennis match. The season is really long. There is a lot of tennis to play. I’m excited for the rest of the year.”
As to whether he can one day win the Wimbledon Championships, it remains to be seen. Only eight men in history have managed to achieve a career grand slam. Wawrinka is three-quarters of the way in doing so.
“l come every year with the challenge to play the best I can. I play two times in the quarterfinal. I know how tough it is to win a Grand Slam.” Wawrinka points out.
“I’m really happy with everything I’ve achieved all my career by winning three Grand Slam in the same era of the big four. Today I’m disappointed to have lost that match, but it is what it is.”
As Wawrinka exits, 21-year-old Opelka will play Milos Raonic next.
