Stan Wawrinka, the day before facing Arthur Cazaux in the first round of the Open Occitanie this Monday, January 27, spoke about his arrival in Montpellier, his career and the future.
The Open Occitanie is used to discovering future talents, such as Jannik Sinner or Alexander Zverev. This year, it is an experienced player who is in Montpellier for the first time. Stan Wawrinka, 39 years old and three Grand Slams (Australian Open 2014, Roland-Garros 2015, US Open 2016), will discover the Patrice-Dominguez court for the first time. Interview.
How did your participation in Montpellier come about? ?
We tried, in recent years, with Seb Grosjean (tournament boss), to come. Unfortunately, I had to withdraw or it didn't happen because the calendar is never easy. But otherwise, I had wanted to come here for a while. I've heard only good things about the Tournament. It's a region where I have quite a few friends. And losing my first round in Australia, it was ideal.
In doubles, you will be partnered with the local of the stage, Arthur Cazaux.
I was lucky that Seb Grosjean put us together in doubles. I've always liked playing doubles. Depending on the tournament, it can be overloaded. This is the first tournament in a series before Rotterdam and Marseille, it's quite interesting. Plus, I'm playing with the young guy from here. Unfortunately, we're playing against each other right from the start in singles.
You will be 40 in March. What motivates you to train every morning? ?
Tennis is a game, a passion. As soon as I started playing, it was a pleasure to step onto the court. It's still the case. I like training, I like trying to improve. And above all, I have the chance to play the best tournaments in the world, to play in front of people, in the most beautiful venues possible, with a lot of spectators, a lot of tension. I like competition, I like everything that revolves around this profession, quite simply. And I know that the day I stop, there will be no going back. So, I try to make the most of it.
Do you know the end date of your career, like Richard Gasquet who has set himself Roland-Garros 2025 ?
For now, I'm taking it as it comes. As long as I feel physically, tennis-wise and mentally ready to make the effort to be at a decent level, I'll keep going.
You're competing with Gaël Monfils to see who will go the furthest ?
No matter what happens, I'll always be the older of the two (laughs).
“I never look back”
What are your goals for 2025 ?
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000To get back to winning ways a little bit. I finished last year better after a bit of a difficult start. Now, physically and tennis-wise, I feel really good. I hope to string together victories, climb up the rankings. And then, as I said, have fun, play the best tournaments.
Has the pressure gone away with age? ?
No, it's still there. Of course, there's the thrill, as throughout my career, of enjoying this life that was a dream when I was young, but the pressure is still there. And that's also one of the reasons why I continue. I like that, the competition.
You've been told this over and over again. But you're one of the only ones to have “stolen” three Grand Slams from the Big 3. Are you aware of this feat? ?
I'm very happy and I've done much more than I could have imagined or dreamed. Now, as long as I play, as long as I am in the competition, I never look at the past. I know what I have done, but what matters is the present moment.
Those who tried to upset the hegemony of the Big 3 lost their health, like Juan Martin Del Potro, Dominic Thiem, Andy Murray. What was your recipe for holding on ?
We all have a different career, a different program, different evolutions, a different game. Now, it's true that I've had major injuries in recent years, I had a knee transplant, major foot problems. But that was after I turned 34, so I was lucky.
I've always tried to play the long term, to play a schedule that's not too long, not too overloaded. Tennis is 11 months in the year non-stop. I've always made sacrifices to try to keep that freshness.
How would you summarize your story with the French public ?
I am very happy with the relationship I have with France in general. It is true that the junior tournament I wanted to win was Roland Garros. For the big guys, it is the tournament I watched all day when I was young. And I was lucky enough to win it too (2015).
With the public, no matter the tournaments and their size, I have a lot of support. I have always had this love for France.
How do you explain this relationship? ?
I speak French, already, I am French-speaking. France is home. That is how I feel. As I said, I have a lot of friends in France. I do a lot of things here.
“Gasquet is a player I grew up with”
How was your doubles partnership with Arthur made possible?
I asked Seb Grosjean to play doubles. He suggested Arthur to me. I said yes straight away. We trained yesterday (Saturday), we had trained in the past. We get along well, it’s a pleasure to play with him.
What can you tell us about him?
Arthur is a very good player, with great potential. He’s young. I’ve had the chance to be around him. You feel like he’s a good person, you want to spend time with him. He’s a hard worker. I hope he goes as far as possible.
Another young player is coming up, a certain Richard Gasquet. Do you have a little word for him ?
He has an exceptional career. A longevity too. He has practically beaten all the best players in the world. Since he was so young, he has been put in the spotlight. He has always been there. He is a guy who has made his career, who has tried to grow according to his desires, to his team. He has had exceptional results. He is a player with whom I grew up, of course, when I arrived. Huge respect for everything he has done in tennis.
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