Stan Wawrinka, one of the legends of the game has proven his worth yet again. Highly regarded as one of the tennis greats, the 3-time grand slam winner has one of the most powerful backhands. In Stockholm, the Swiss legend managed to make his way into the semi-finals but had to suffer a defeat against Tommy Paul. The American, despite landing an easy victory, had nothing but love and admiration to express for him.

Tommy Paul couldn’t hold back his emotions following his victory over Stan Wawrinka. In the interview published by Spil X Perten, Paul took a moment to reflect on what the Swiss star means to tennis and how much respect he has for him. “Wawrinka is a great legend in our sport. He has three Grand Slam titles, all different. If you want three titles, that’s how you have to do it,” Paul said acknowledging Stan’s rare accomplishment of winning major titles on three different surfaces. This feat alone puts Wawrinka in a league of his own, solidifying his place among the sport’s greats.

Paul also talked about what it’s like to face Wawrinka on the court and experiencing firsthand how difficult it is to compete against him when he’s at his best. “Everybody knows that when he’s playing his best tennis, he’s pretty much impossible to play against,” Paul said, highlighting the challenge Wawrinka poses as an opponent.

Despite the competitive nature of their match, Paul suggested that he enjoyed the experience. “I had a really fun match today and he’s such a nice guy so it’s always fun sharing the court with him,” the American added. Paul’s words reflect a deep appreciation for the Swiss star – a heartfelt tribute to a legend who has inspired so many in the sport. Though Wawrinka’s career gradually drawing to a close, he isn’t showing signs of stopping anytime soon. In fact, he is still breaking records. While making his way into the semi-finals, Stan Wawrinka broke a major record that even the Big 3 couldn’t achieve.

Stan Wawrinka breaks a major record as he makes history in Stockholm

Wawrinka secured his seat in the semifinals after defeating the top seed Andrey Rublev. And with the victory, he became only the third oldest player in the history of the ATP tour to reach the semifinals since 1990. The other two to have done so are Ivo Karlovic and the legendary Jimmy Connors.

Stan Wawrinka’s biggest motivation in tennis is tennis itself. “I cannot change my age, but most important for me is that when I enter the court, I always try to fight,” said Wawrinka during an interview. “I try to improve and enjoy what I am doing. The reason I keep going is to play matches like this, with so many people giving me good energy on the court, and I’m super happy to have the chance to play one more match,” he added.

Awaiting the next challenge in Swiss Indoors, he will be looking to carry this momentum forward. Will be he able to keep up this form? What do you think? Do let us know in the comments below!