THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 6, 2023

Stan Wawrinka

Press Conference

S. WAWRINKA/T.M. Etcheverry

6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. What are your thoughts on playing Novak?

STAN WAWRINKA: I think it's great to play him at least one time here on grass. It's going to be the first time Wimbledon.

Of course I'm excited, and I'm happy to have the chance to play against him after we played in every other Grand Slam, a lot of other tournaments. So it's going to be first time on grass, and it's great.

Q. When you won the US Open, I asked you that this was the only major that you were missing, and if you were preparing for it. You said no at the time.

STAN WAWRINKA: It never happened. I was waiting (smiling).

Q. Now you face Novak.

STAN WAWRINKA: There's zero opportunity to win Wimbledon for me, I think. I'm happy to have won today again. I think it was great match. I'm playing better each match, and as I say, I think it's an honor to play Novak here. I was missing that on my career to play him in the Grand Slam in Wimbledon. That's the last I never played him, and it's going to be a difficult challenge.

Hopefully I can make a competitive match, but if you will look at recent results, I don't really stand a chance.

Q. But in the past some of your results against Novak at Roland Garros, New York, have been epic, some of those battles. Why do you think you have managed to get his number at some of the major events?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, it was a part of my career that I was playing such a good level that I knew when I was entering on court against Novak in Grand Slam I was able to beat him. I have a powerful game from baseline, forehand, backhand, and I was physically ready to compete with him. I had some amazing match, was probably two best match of my career in French Open and US Open.

Yeah, was great memories.

Q. Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam you haven't won. When you look back, when do you think were your best opportunities? Would it have been that quarterfinal against Gasquet, for example?

STAN WAWRINKA: This, yeah, for me, if I look back a bit in my career, this is a big regret, the one against Gasquet. Not because I believe at that time I could have win something, but it was to play Novak in semis just after French Open. So it's one of the main match that I will always pick as a regret.

That match, I lost it, Gasquet was playing better that day, five sets. I was so close to get the chance to play Novak at that time in semifinal when I was playing my best tennis.

Q. Can you pick between the French Open and US Open finals, which one do you think was your best performance?

STAN WAWRINKA: I think was two different kind of match. I think tennis-wise probably French Open. I think that's where I was playing the best. I think mentally or physically more US Open. We had a tough last four, five days of the tournament, was really humid, really physical for both of us. We played some really tough battle to get into the final. So, yeah, different feeling.

Q. You have been at the top of the game and you have dropped down, and you have been very vocal about it, written about it. Do you feel that you have been treated differently as a player when you were highly ranked, major champion, and when you have been more lowly ranked, particularly at the majors?

STAN WAWRINKA: Of course you have been through it differently when you are at the top of the game and when you are down in the ranking. That's normal and that's how it is. And that's always going to be like that.

I always believe that doesn't matter where I was in the ranking. I think for me playing major, it's always something special. It's always a privilege. So I'm always happy.

Doesn't matter which court I'm playing. Doesn't matter where I have to stay. For me, it's always going to be special to be in Grand Slam.

Q. You have been in the game a long time. Wondered if there was one thing you could change about tennis, what that would be?

STAN WAWRINKA: I'm happy with the way it is so far (smiling). I think it's tough to pick something. I think it's a long subject that you need a long talk about it to really see if there is something that need to be changed.

If you look at fans in general in tournaments, we get more fans every tournament. Everybody's happy to come. Everybody is enjoying. You look around here, even raining day like yesterday, they still stay here.

So I think in general tennis is in great position.

Q. Roger is kind of regarded as the king of Wimbledon, eight titles here. Novak potentially could match him this year. Are you surprised that he's managed to accumulate so many grass court titles at Wimbledon?

STAN WAWRINKA: Novak?

Q. Yeah.

STAN WAWRINKA: No. Have you seen him play (smiling)? Give me one weakness. I think he's been an amazing player to play. He's the perfect player.

If you look, everything is so clean. He play the perfect shot in the right moment. I love to watch him play, as much as I was loving to watch Roger play.

Yeah, like the way he's playing, like he's serving amazing, he's returning everything. He can do everything. I'm not surprised at all.

Q. Can you beat him?

STAN WAWRINKA: I don't know (smiling). I have to be on the court, play my best tennis and like I did in the past, but right now it's been a long time I didn't play at that level.

So it's going to be interesting. Hopefully, as I say, I can make a competitive match and I can be there to have a fight. But if you look at recent results, it's going to be difficult.

Q. Who is the greatest grass court player of all time?

STAN WAWRINKA: Whoa, you really need to get answer?

I think, ay yi yi, There will be no answer on that. We don't need to answer. I think Novak is still playing. Rafa didn't retire yet. But I think we can just enjoy.

I like to enjoy as a fan, as a tennis fan. I like to watch tennis. So I'm going to be playing tomorrow and then watching the rest of the tournament. (Laughter.)