Stan Wawrinka Opens up on Partnering Roger Federer at Tokyo Olympics 2021

Veteran Swiss star Stan Wawrinka has said that he still hasn’t given a thought to partnering with compatriot Roger Federer at the Summer Olympics next year.

Originally scheduled this year in Tokyo, the Summer Olympics were pushed to the next year in light of concerns over the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Wawrinka, who won the doubles gold along with the 20-time Grand Slam champion in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, said he hasn’t spoken to Federer yet about the event next year.

“I think this (2021 Tokyo Olympics) is still far away, not only in the tennis schedule but with what’s happening in the world right now,” Wawrinka said.

Having made the quarter-finals of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, Wawrinka is currently in the fray for the ongoing Rolex Paris Masters.

Though he made the last-eight stage in Vienna, Wawrinka has been struggling with his form this year. Seen as one of the title-contenders, Wawrinka fell in the third round of the French Open, losing to 161st-ranked Hugo Gaston of France.

Stan Wawrinka still hunting for more titles

The run of losses and unflattering performances doesn’t seem to have shaken Wawrinka’s confidence and motivation to compete for titles next year.

Speaking to reporters after his opening-round win at the Masters, Wawrinka said that while he realizes that he is in the twilight of his career, he still feels he has it in him for ‘one last push’.

“I also believe I have one last push that I really want to, again, one more time push myself to the limit, make the sacrifice that you need to make to be at my top, and I’m trying to do that,” Wawrinka said.

Read More: “Close to the end of my career”: Stan Wawrinka reflects on 2021 season

Taking on Dan Evans of Great Britain in his opening round at the calendar ATP event, Wawrinka came through in straight sets. However, the match was a lot closer than what the eventual scoreline may have suggested. Wawrinka swept the first set in no time at 6-3 but Evans staged a spirited fightback and forced the second into a tie-break.

Wawrinka showed enough hunger and drive to win the tie-break 7-3, and, with it, the match.