“Trying to Get in Shape”: Stan Wawrinka Reveals Battles With COVID-19 Before Coming to Australian Open 2021

It was a feast for tennis fans on Friday as Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Dominic Thiem, Ashleigh Barty and Simona Halep were in action in Adelaide. Besides those Major champions playing in Adelaide, three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka has been isolated in Melbourne.

Before flying for the Australian Open 2021, Wawrinka was also one of the victims who was infected by the fatal virus COVID-19. He tested positive during Christmas and did not hit the tennis courts for almost 10 days.

Unfortunately, with the isolation and the opposition of health, Wawrinka couldn’t train to his maximum.

“I’m trying to get in shape. I actually got positive during Christmas, so I had to stay more than 10 days at home, so I completely lost all the work I’ve been doing all the offseason,” Stan Wawrinka said.

“I was really feeling bad during [the first] five days but the symptoms, you keep it, and are really more tired every day and that lasts a few weeks and there is still some symptoms that you get and wonder why.”

Hence, before traveling to Australia, Wawrinka didn’t really practice to his fullest. However, the 14 days of quarantine have turned out to be bliss for the Lausanne-born tennis professional.

“It was not a good experience, I had a tough time at home. Now I finally start to see that I am feeling better but it can touch you badly and it’s important to be really careful,” Stan continued.

Stan Wawrinka trains hard in the Melbourne bubble for Australian Open 2021

The Swiss champion, Wawrinka, has been training for nearly five hours in the Melbourne bubble. He is one of the few luckiest players who hasn’t been locked into their rooms.

“I had a nice room, big room, I’ve been able to practice every day, going out for five hours, so the preparation has been going well and for that, I think the organization, the amount of effort to make so many people coming here, it’s huge,” he added.

Up next, Wawrinka has signed up for the lead-up event to Australian Open 2021, ATP 250 Murray River Open in Melbourne.

The tournament is set to take place from 1 to 7 February, simultaneously other ATP men will be competing against each other for their nation at the 2021 ATP Cup.

Meanwhile, on Friday, in the southern part of the country, after almost 12 long months, a packed stadium welcomed the elite tennis players in an exhibition event.

The Spaniard from Mallorca, Nadal, defeated the defending Australian Open finalist Thiem at the Adelaide exhibition event.