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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 11: Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland celebrates after winning the third set against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their Men’s Singles Final Match on Day Fourteen of the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 11, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 11: Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland celebrates after winning the third set against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their Men’s Singles Final Match on Day Fourteen of the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 11, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka had a brief span in which he did wonders. The man from Switzerland was one of the very few who managed to win majors in the same era as Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal. Hailing from Switzerland, Stan has a close association with Federer.
In recent years, Stan has been having constant problems with his knee, which required him to undergo surgery. After a considerable amount of time away, Wawrinka made his return on tour. The results didn’t live up to the standards the Swiss once possessed.
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 26: Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland and Rafael Nadal of Spain hug at the net after Wawrinka won their men’s final match during day 14 of the 2014 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Stan Wawrinka: Still have a few good years left
Wawrinka has been training hard during the off-season. He looks determined to get back to the best of his abilities. Recently, he was asked if he had considered hanging up his racquet anytime soon. To this, he said, “I hope to get through this as smoothly as possible, but I know it will be difficult. And even if I arrive towards the end, I think I still have a few good years ahead of me and I still want to push the machine.”
Between 2014-2016, Wawrinka enjoyed a successful spell in his career. He won three grand slams. In 2014, he won the Australian Open beating Rafael Nadal in the final. It was the first time the Swiss had ever made it to this stage of a major. He embraced his given opportunity and made the most of it.
The following year, he beat Novak Djokovic at the French Open 2015 final. The Serb looked to be in the form of his life during the tournament and had knocked out Rafa at the quarterfinal stage of the event. However, Stan climbed back after being a set down to eventually seal the match in four sets.
In the 2016 US Open, Wawrinka faced Djokovic again in a grand slam final. This time, Stan had the belief and was definitely considered a real contender to go the distance. Similar to his final at Roland Garros the previous year, the Swiss clawed into the match after being a set down.
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The 2014 Australian Open champion has intensified his training regime. He’ll be seen at the first major of the season, in a little over a month from now.
