‘He Knows What I Am Capable of’: Stan Wawrinka Says Novak Djokovic Feared Him at the Biggest Stages

3-time Grand Slam winner, Stan Wawrinka has been one of the best players during the era of the Big Three. Many considered Wawrinka as part of the Big Five alongside Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray. The Swiss player is currently recovering from a foot injury that he sustained in March 2021.

Meanwhile, in a recent interview, the former World no.3 looked back at his favorite moments from the Australian Open. In that interview, Wawrinka talked about his famous match-up against Novak Djokovic, which changed his career. 

Stan Wawrinka feels Novak Djokovic fears him in Grand Slams

During an interview with Eurosport, Stan Wawrinka talked about his 4th round match against Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open 2013. Although the Swiss lost the match in five sets, he feels that match changed his career in a good way. They again met each other next year in the quarter-final at the Australian Open, but this time, the Swiss got his revenge against the Serb. 

“Before the re-match in Australia, a lot of people said, ‘another epic match is coming up’… I managed to get into the match anyway and made it to the fifth set. I told myself ‘this time I will make it and I won’t let him get away…it’s my time!’ That is what happened and it took me to another level in my career.” Wawrinka said.

However, Stan also said something interesting thing about his match-up against Novak Djokovic. Wawrinka felt Djokovic fears him in Grand Slams, as he said, “Novak was always the one of the ‘Big Three’, I liked playing against the most. His play suits me the most even though he has beaten me more times than I can count. I know he fears me, mostly in Grand Slams!” the Swiss said about Djokovic.

“We played again at the US Open and even though he was a little injured, he was still playing at his highest level. I felt that he was getting tense when we started, he often does, because he knows what I am capable of. That’s why we have had several epic matches,” Wawrinka further said about Djokovic. 

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Maybe there’s some truth in Wawrinka’s comments, as he won two Grand Slams by beating Djokovic in the final. The Swiss beat Novak at the French Open and US Open finals in 2015 and 2016, respectively. 

When will Wawrinka return on the tour?

After going through foot surgery in March last year, Stan didn’t play a single match in 2021. Also, he didn’t start 2022 on a good note either, as he missed the Australian Open. According to a Swiss newspaper, Wawrinka could be out till March, this year. 

If everything goes well, we will probably see him at the French Open, which will start in May. 

Can Wawrinka come back strongly in 2022? Let us know in the comments.

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