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Though Stan Wawrinka missed the back end of 2017 with a knee injury, he was a solid contender for the first six months.

He came close to winning two big titles this year--Indian Wells and Roland Garros--but couldn't keep up with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the finals. And, if one more set had gone his way against Federer in Melbourne, he would have made the final there as well.

Moment of the Year

Two Slam champions Wawrinka was able to get the better of were Marin Cilic and Andy Murray, whom he beat in the quarters and semis of the French. He breadsticked Murray, the top seed, in the fifth set of a marathon match that took 4 hours and 34 minutes.

One-handed backhands often get criticized for not being great at returning serves, but this one in Indian Wells against Philipp Kohlschreiber worked out just fine.

Outlook for 2018

The Swiss is back hitting balls, and he hasn't given any indication that his recovery isn't going well. Given his work ethic and professionalism, it's fair for fans to expect him to be competing for big titles again very soon. There are some questions, however, about how Wawrinka will be affected by his split with coach Magnus Norman, who took him from being a semi-elite player to one with as many Grand Slams as Andy Murray.

The late-October end to one of the most fruitful coaching partnerships of recent seasons has added an intriguing new element to forecasts for 2018: how will Stan Wawrinka fare without the cool, stable, thorough, reassuring and super-professional presence of Magnus Norman?

When the Wawrinka-Norman collaboration started in April, 2013, the long-time Swiss No.2 was ranked 17th, and had never reached the semifinals of a major. The thunderous ball-striker with that majestic one-handed backhand was also suspect temperamentally and emotionally, his commitment questionable, his self-belief often lacking. At that stage, a grand talent unfulfilled.

By the time Norman departed, citing personal reasons, while his charge was rehabilitating from August knee surgery, Wawrinka had won three singles majors: the 2014 Australian Open, 2015 French and 2016 US. The 32-year-old had spent much of 2014-2017 entrenched in the top four, while developing a handsome - if still occasionally spotty on the consistency front - reputation as a big-occasion guy who plays his best at an event’s pointy end.

“Most of the time I know when I start to win the matches in the tournament, I start to get the confidence, the good feeling with the ball, with the way I'm playing in the tournament. I know I play better and better,’’ Wawrinka said earlier this year. “Normally semifinal, final, I always play some good match. Doesn't mean I always win, but I know that I'm going to play some good tennis.’’

First, the Wawrinka knee. The chronic problems he had carried through the last part of 2016 and were still troublesome en route to a classic five-set semi against Roger Federer at Melbourne Park in January flared more seriously during a winless grasscourt swing. A date with the surgeon’s knife followed; practice not resuming until a ‘happy and excited’ Stanimal resurfaced on a Twitter video on November 7.

By then, Norman was his EX-coach, the respected/understated Swede prioritising his two young children over a professional relationship that had returned a 12-5 finals record - including three out of four Slams, with this year’s Roland Garros loss to a rampant Rafa Nadal the exception - and a close personal bond.

What Norman described as “one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make”, was a surprise to many, despite Wawrinka having added American Paul Annacone to his team in a grass-court consulting role mid-year.

Immediately after that was when the curtain was drawn; an injury-compromised loss to Daniil Medvedev at the All England Club leaving Wawrinka with a 27-11 record in a half-season highlighted by that final in Paris and another at Indian Wells (a surprisingly rare occurrence at Masters 1000 level, it must be said), plus the Geneva crown on clay and the semi at Melbourne Park.

There was no chance of a US Open defence, though, and Wawrinka remains one Wimbledon short of becoming just the ninth man in history to complete a career slam. He is also left in the familiar - although far from unique - position behind Rafa and Roger in the pecking order, and wondering how to combat both.

Normally semifinal, final, I always play some good match. Doesn't mean I always win, but I know that I'm going to play some good tennis.

“With them, you hesitate,’’ he said after a 6-2 6-3 6-1 finals beating in Paris. “Even though I have a game plan, even though I know what I have to do, there is always some hesitation in your mind.

“And if you miss a ball, if you hit a ball short, they will attack you. Against these big players, this is the most difficult thing to control. When you play against them, you have to go for your shots and you shouldn't think too much.’’

A better idea, perhaps, is to remember that he has beaten both of the rejuvenated Big Two on big stages, including Nadal in the Australian Open final three years ago. The architect of Plan Stan may have moved onto new projects, but Norman leaves behind far stronger foundations than he found. “Magnus made me a winner,’’ Wawrinka was fond of saying. Knee health and new-coach considerations permitting, he may yet be one again.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Former Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka says he's ready for this year's tournament beginning next Monday after being sidelined from competitive tennis for six months.

Wawrinka hasn't played since Wimbledon and had left knee surgery in August, forcing him to miss the U.S. Open, where he was defending champion.

"Happy to be back on the tour and seeing the sun. Still a lot to do but I'm feeling really positive so looking forward to starting," Wawrinka said Tuesday.

Wawrinka, who won 2014 Australian Open, lost in the semifinals last year at Melbourne Park to eventual champion Roger Federer.

Wawrinka is set to join Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios and Lleyton Hewitt in the Tie Break Tens tournament on Wednesday at Margaret Court Arena. Each match is a 10-point tiebreak.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

STAN Wawrinka’s hopes of contesting Monday’s Australian Open remain clouded amid reports the Swiss will withdraw from Wednesday night’s Tie Break Tens at Melbourne Park.

The triple grand slam champion warned on Tuesday he would bypass the Australian Open unless there is “zero risk” of jeopardising long-term goals as he recovers from knee surgery.

Wawrinka has been practising in Melbourne for a week and is scheduled to ramp up his Open preparation in a first-to-10 points clash with Austrian Dominic Thiem on Margaret Court Arena on Wednesday night.

But there is growing speculation he will be replaced in the abbreviated format by Milos Raonic.

LIVE BLOG: All Wednesday’s tennis action

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Wawrinka isn’t confident about his body. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
Wawrinka is listed to play Austrian Dominic Thiem in the last of the four opening-round tiebreak clashes.

The Swiss enforcer said part of his trip to Australia was to find fitness answers.

“I basically came here to get the answer to see if I’m ready to play or if I’m not ready to play,” Wawrinka said.

“When you play a match it’s different to practice. You also add the stress, you also start to be more tight in the movement.

“So, for sure, I will play only if I have zero risk.

“I came here with a lot of doubt. I’m improving. It’s been a long time now, six months, so it’s tough to be at that level. I cannot do everything yet but I’m happy with the way I’m practising so far.

“I know it’s gonna take more time to be 100 per cent but as long as my knee is doing well, that’s the most important.”


The Swiss star isn’t rushing his comeback. (AAP Image/Luis Enrique Ascui)


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Wawrinka is determined not to gamble his long-term future.

“The goal is to come back to the level I had before,” the Australian, French and US Open winner said.

“For sure, it takes time. I’m not 100 per cent fit physically yet but that’s normal. That’s on the plan.


“Even after that you need to get confidence, you need to get used to play the points.

“I’m OK to take that time to get there if it’s going a bit quicker, perfect. But I’m not in a rush.”

Novak Djokovic will play Lleyton Hewitt in the first of Wednesday night’s event before Lucas Pouille squares off against Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych and Nick Kyrgios do battle.

Thiem will then play either Wawrinka or Raonic.

Competing in the Australian Open a huge step in the right direction for Wawrinka
Matters at one point had gotten so bleak for Stan Wawrinka, the three-time Grand Slam champion feared he might never play a professional match again, let alone compete in this year's Australian Open. A tough knee injury that kept the 32-year-old out of competition after Wimbledon in 2017 forced him to undergo surgery in August, and since then it has been a battle toward recovery for the Swiss.

And while his journey is nowhere near over, Wawrinka will pass a major hurdle this fortnight.

"I think the fact that I'm here and I'm going to play the first one [Grand Slam], it's a big victory," Wawrinka said. "It's the best that I could have dreamed when I had the surgery, is to be here sitting in front of you and to say, 'Okay, I'm going to play the first match'. That's something really good from my side, especially from the knee. The knee is getting way better. I still have a lot of work to do physically and also tennis-wise to get to my top level... I need to start somewhere anyway."

Wawrinka admitted that it has been anything but easy getting to this point.

"It's been six months now and it's been really tough, to get back to a place where I can play again," Wawrinka said. "But now, I'm feeling better. I'm slowly getting there. It was a last-minute choice to come here [to Melbourne] for a week and just practise, without even knowing if I could play the event or not. But after a few months being at home, I realise this is the right choice, practising a lot and getting my knee better."

For Wawrinka, the physical pain that came with the eight weeks he spent on crutches was right on par with the mental anguish he was forced to endure along with it.

"The thing is, it's always complicated when you were at that (elite) level before, then you get injured, and then you have to deal with the psychological pain as well," Wawrinka said. "It's tough to explain because some people think 'Oh, come on, you have this amazing life, why are you complaining, what's not to feel great about'? The hardest part is, what should you tell people, and what should you keep to yourself?"

Just being able to lace up his sneakers at this year's Australian Open is an accomplishment for Wawrinka. The World No. 9 has stayed in constant contact with his doctor since undergoing surgery to make sure he chooses the right time to return, and he feels ready to test himself in Melbourne.

"I think that here's a good starting point, to get pushed, and to see how I react mentally, and how I'm going to feel when I'm playing these matches.

"There's always a little risk, for sure, especially starting up again after six months away," Wawrinka said. "You're going to get more tight, you're going to get nervous, you're not going to feel as comfortable in a match as in practice. But my knee is holding up — that's most important."

As for planning beyond the Australian Open, Wawrinka is taking matters one step at a time — the first step in his comeback may prove most important, after all. It all begins in the first round against Ricardas Berankis.

"My main goal is first to get to the level I want to be physically," Wawrinka said. "I know I need a few weeks, maybe a month. I don't know, I'll see. That's my first goal. Then I will decide what will be the next goal."

Stan Wawrinka ogłosił na sobotniej konferencji prasowej, że weźmie udział w rozpoczynającym się 15 stycznia Australian Open 2018. We wtorek jego przeciwnikiem będzie Litwin Ricardas Berankis.

Z powodu kontuzji kolana Stan Wawrinka nie był widziany na światowych kortach od Wimbledonu 2017. Szwajcar nie rozegrał nawet ani jednego pojedynku w ramach turniejów pokazowych w Abu Zabi czy Tie Break Tens. - W Melbourne trenowałem z Rafą Nadalem, Novakiem Djokoviciem, Gaelem Monfilsem i Grigorem Dimitrowem. Nie wygrałem zbyt wielu setów, ale to nie jest teraz najważniejsze - stwierdził trzykrotny mistrz wielkoszlemowy.
Dla Stana kluczowe teraz jest, aby mógł grać bez bólu, a ten nie ustępował, gdy zostały odstawione środki medyczne. Z tego powodu tenisista z Lozanny nie był pewny występu w Melbourne, jednak po konsultacjach zdecydował się na start. - Zawsze istnieje jakieś ryzyko, szczególnie podczas meczu granego po sześciu miesiącach. Mogę do niego przystąpić nieco spięty i nie czuć się tak dobrze jak podczas treningów. Najważniejsze, że kolano się trzyma - przyznał mistrz Australian Open 2014, który we wtorek zmierzy się w I rundzie z Litwinem Ricardasem Berankisem.

Dla Wawrinki już samo wyjście na kort jest traktowane jako zwycięstwo. Szwajcar nie ukrywa, że przeżywał ciężkie chwile podczas rehabilitacji. - Miałem w związku z kontuzją sporo obaw. Przez osiem tygodni poruszałem się o kulach, a na początku rehabilitacji tylko chodziłem. Zawsze wszystko się komplikuje, gdy gra się na wysokim poziomie, ale potem łapie się uraz i odczuwa się ból także w sferze mentalnej - powiedział.

Wawrinka po raz kolejny wyznał, że był bardzo rozczarowany decyzją trenera Magnusa Normana, który pod koniec sezonu opuścił jego sztab. - Kiedy sportowiec przeżywa tak trudne chwile, to oczekuje, że jego bliscy pozostaną przy nim. Magnus był moim trenerem oraz przyjacielem. To było dla mnie trudne, że nie było go przy mnie, gdy wznowiłem treningi. Byłem z tego powodu bardziej zasmucony niż zły - zakończył Szwajcar.

It’s tough to keep a champion down for long. An impressive scar down his left knee told the story of Stan Wawrinka’s forced time away from the game when he strolled onto a packed Hisense Arena on Tuesday.

But the 2014 Australian Open champion let it be known a last-minute trip Down Under for his first match since Wimbledon was the right move.

Six months on the sidelines was sending the Swiss a little stir crazy.

Battling a man who knows the pains of coming back from major surgery, Wawrinka withstood an onslaught from sturdy Ricardas Berankis in a 6-3 6-4 2-6 7-6(2) victory.



Battling a man who knows the pains of coming back from major surgery, Wawrinka withstood an onslaught from sturdy Ricardas Berankis in a 6-3 6-4 2-6 7-6(2) victory.

“It's great to be back. It's great to win, for sure. Was a tough one in all aspects of the game, of the energy,” Wawrinka said.

“But in general, I'm really happy to get through a match like that, to fight the way I did today, to win the match like this.

“Being out for six months. I was just happy to be back on court here winning in front of a crowd like that is something really special to me.”

Untested in match competition coming in, this was the greenest Wawrinka had arrived in Melbourne.
After so long out and the first serious test of that battle-scarred knee, it could well mean the sorest his 32-year-old body will have pulled up after an Australian Open first round match, too.

“Yeah, some pain, for sure,” Wawrinka said of his knee. “I still have some pain. It depends the way I'm moving, how I push on it. In general, it's going the right direction. That's the best news.

“To see that the knee is keeping it, that I can play a match with the stress, back being tight, with hesitation. The knee doesn't move even after three hours, so that's great.”

A little rust was to be expected when he quickly fell behind 0-2.

When those thunderous baseline blows began to find their mark, however, he was on a roll.



When a heavy second serve drew the shanked return from his opponent a roar of “Allez” signalled the Swiss star’s relief at taking a two-set lead.

Berankis, a former top-50 player, was building a comeback of his own.

He too had endured the struggles of six months out of the game.

Now ranked No.136, the Lithuanian returned to action last May after hip surgery in 2016.

Stan Wawrinka pokonał 6:3, 6:4, 2:6, 7:6(2) Ricardasa Berankisa w I rundzie Australian Open 2018. - Wspaniale jest wrócić. Jestem bardzo szczęśliwy, że wyszedłem zwycięsko z tak trudnego pojedynku, to dla mnie ważne - mówił Szwajcar po meczu.

Stan Wawrinka, podobnie jak Novak Djoković, podczas Australian Open 2018 wraca na kort po półrocznej przerwie. Z powodu kontuzji kolana Szwajcar nie grał od 3 lipca ubiegłego roku. We wtorek, w meczu I rundy turnieju w Melbourne, pokonał 6:3, 6:4, 2:6, 7:6(2) Ricardasa Berankisa.
- Wspaniale jest wrócić. Jestem bardzo szczęśliwy, że wyszedłem zwycięsko z tak trudnego pojedynku, to dla mnie ważne. Pod każdym aspektem był to trudny mecz. Musiałem walczyć - mówił na konferencji prasowej.

Obserwując mecz, na kolanie Szwajcara łatwo można było dostrzec dużą pooperacyjną bliznę. Sam tenisista wyjawił, że z jego kolanem jeszcze nie wszystko jest w porządku. - Wciąż czuję ból. Wszystko zależy od sposobu, w jaki się poruszam. Ale mogę grać i wszystko idzie w dobrym kierunku. To jest dla mnie najważniejsza wiadomość.
Pooperacyjna blizna na kolanie Stana Wawrinki (Foto: puntodebreak.com)
Pooperacyjna blizna na kolanie Stana Wawrinki (Foto: puntodebreak.com)
- Przyjechałem tutaj, aby przekonać się, czy mogę grać. Wygrałem pierwszy mecz i koncentruję się na turnieju. Muszę być cierpliwy, bo wiem, że aby wrócić do swojego optymalnego poziomu, muszę wykonać jeszcze wiele pracy - dodał Wawrinka, który w II rundzie, w czwartek, zmierzy się z kwalifikantem Tennysem Sandgrenem.

2014 champion improves to 13-0 in Melbourne openers

In his first match for more than six months, Stan Wawrinka, at times, looked his old self, smacking backhand winners and gaining free points behind his serve.

But at no point did Wawrinka resemble his three-time Grand Slam champion self more than at the moment when he needed to play his best. In the fourth-set tie-break, the ninth seed sped past Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis, winning seven of nine points to ensure a successful return to Melbourne 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(2).

“It's great to be back,” said Wawrinka. “It's great to win, for sure. It was a tough one in all aspects of the game but, in general, I'm really happy to get through a match like that. To fight the way I did today. To win the match like this.”

Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian Open champion, improved to 13-0 in first-round matches in Melbourne. The 32-year-old, however, had to fight against Berankis, who reached the title match of the VTB Kremlin Cup in Moscow last October.

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The 27-year-old Berankis hit 59 winners – compared to 36 from Wawrinka – and won more points than Wawrinka (127 to 123). But the 32-year-old Swiss won just as many of break points as Berankis – four each – and jumped out to a 4/1 lead in the fourth-set tie-break.

Wawrinka was playing his first match since the first round of 2017 Wimbledon, when he lost to Russian Daniil Medvedev. Wawrinka was in obvious pain during the match, icing his left knee during changeovers. The right-hander opted for surgery and didn't play a match for the remainder of the 2017 season.

He played on Tuesday, though, without any bulky brace or even a wrap on the left knee, and Wawrinka moved around the court like a healed man as well, even serving and volleying during the opener. After the match, Wawrinka admitted he did play with some pain but had a positive outlook moving forwards.

“In general, it's going the right direction. That's the best news. That I can play a match with the stress… so that is great,” said Wawrinka.

The Swiss will next meet American Tennys Sandgren, who won 81 per cent of his first-serve points to beat French veteran Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 7-6(2), 6-2.

Stan Wawrinka odpadł w II rundzie rozgrywanego na kortach twardych wielkoszlemowego Australian Open 2018. W czwartek zmagający się z bólem kolana Szwajcar w trzech setach przegrał z Tennysem Sandgrenem.

- Czuję ból. Ale mogę grać. To jest najważniejsze - powiedział Stan Wawrinka po pokonaniu Ricardasa Berankisa w I rundzie Australian Open 2018. Dla Szwajcara był to pierwszy pojedynek po półrocznej przerwie spowodowanej kontuzją kolana. W czwartek, w 1/32 finału, zmierzył się z Tennysem Sandgrenem. I tym razem zamiast radości ze zwycięstwa, był smutek i ból.


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Wawrinka bowiem z powodu kłopotów zdrowotnych nie mógł nawiązać walki z o wiele niżej notowanym rywalem. Nie był w stanie właściwie poruszać się po korcie, a po wymianach z grymasem bólu chwytał się za operowane kolano. Szwajcar zdawał sobie sprawę ze swojej niedyspozycji, ale nie chciał się poddać. Zaciskał zęby i ze łzami w oczach kontynuował rywalizację.

Rozstawiony z numerem dziewiątym Wawrinka walczył do końca, choć ani na moment poważnie nie zagroził rywalowi. W dwóch pierwszych setach Sandgren stracił zaledwie trzy gemy. Z kolei na początku trzeciego błyskawicznie wywalczył przełamanie i tej przewagi już nie oddał.

Mecz trwał godzinę i 28 minut. W tym czasie Sandgren zaserwował 11 asów, posłał 32 zagrania kończące, popełnił 22 niewymuszone błędy, ani razu nie został przełamany, wykorzystał pięć z 13 break pointów i łącznie zdobył 90 punktów, o 31 więcej od przeciwnika. Wawrince natomiast zapisano cztery asy, 21 uderzeń wygrywających i 35 pomyłek własnych.

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- Bardzo trudno gra się z byłym mistrzem. Jestem wdzięczny, że dostałem szansę występu na Margaret Court Arena. Ciężko pracowałem, aby dotrzeć do tego punktu. Przez cały mecz utrzymywałem serwis. To było ważne - powiedział Sandgren.


Pokonanie aktualnie ósmego w rankingu ATP Wawrinki, mistrza Australian Open 2014, to największe zwycięstwo w karierze 26-letniego Amerykanina i zarazem drugie nad rywalem z czołowej "20" klasyfikacji singlistów (w ubiegłym roku w Waszyngtonie ograł Nicka Kyrgiosa, wówczas 20. gracza świata). Wygrywając, pierwszy raz znalazł się w III rundzie turnieju wielkoszlemowego.

W 1/16 finału Sandgren zmierzy się z innym debiutantem na tym poziomie imprezy Wielkiego Szlema, Maximilianem Martererem. Niemiec w czwartek także sprawił niespodziankę. Na korcie numer 8 po trzech godzinach i 27 minutach zaciętej batalii wygrał 6:4, 4:6, 7:6(5), 3:6, 6:3 z Fernando Verdasco, półfinalistą turnieju w Melbourne sprzed dziewięciu lat.

Australian Open , Melbourne (Australia)
Wielki Szlem, kort twardy (Plexicushion), pula nagród 55 mln dolarów australijskich
czwartek, 18 stycznia

II runda gry pojedynczej mężczyzn:
Tennys Sandgren (USA) - Stan Wawrinka (Szwajcaria, 9) 6:2, 6:1, 6:4
Maximilian Marterer (Niemcy) - Fernando Verdasco (Hiszpania) 6:4, 4:6, 7:6(5), 3:6, 6:3