Stanislas Wawrinka: A Rising Star of 2011
Born on 28th March 1985, Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka is currently positioned at number 14 in world rankings. The Swiss tennis star is the winner of three ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) titles but is yet to bag
a Grand Slam tournament. Wawrinka’s recent performances have put him under the spot light and he is proclaimed to be one of the fastest rising tennis stars of 2011.
The 6ft tall right-hander is well reckoned for his mighty one-handed backhand shot, which he inspires from his compatriot, the tennis god, Roger Federer. He considers clay to be the best surface for him and uses his backhand as
the primary weapon of destruction. Wawrinka’s aggressive approach to the game makes him one of the toughest competitors to overcome. His world ranking of 14 certainly overshadows the potential this young man has got but still his abilities are praised by many.
The tennis legend, John McEnroe is one of the admirers of Wawrinka and he believes that the Swiss possess one of the best and most powerful one-handed backhands he has ever seen in the game.
The 25-year-old Swiss has won a gold medal for his country in doubles category at the Beijing Summer Olympics in 2008, teaming up with his dream player, Roger Federer. Wawrinka has achieved a career best world ranking of nine and
is considered to be one of the craftiest players among male tennis players.
Wawrinka started off his 2011 campaign at the Aircel Chennai Open, defeating Robin Haase in the quarter-final and then the top seed Tomas Berdych in the semi-final. He bagged the title after beating Xavier Malisse in the final
of the Chennai Open, to extend his title count to three.
The Swiss came under the spot light during his Australian Open campaign, where he defeated tough competitors like Teymuraz Gabashvili, Grigor Dimitrov, Gael Monfils and Andy Roddick to make it to the quarter-final of the Grand
Slam. Wawrinka faced the Swiss maestro Roger Federer in the quarter-final and suffered a straight sets defeat at his hands. Nevertheless, his voyage to the quarter-finals of the Aussie Open is seen by many as the rise of a future great player.
His next stop was at the Copa Telmex in February where he defeated Victor Hanescu in the second round and Juan Monaco in the quarter-finals, only to be beaten by Juan Ignacio Chela in the semi-finals. Wawrinka continued his habit
of losing in the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the tournaments even at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Mexico. He was victorious against Pablo Andujar and Fabio Fognini in the initial rounds but lost to Juan Monaco in the quarter-finals.
Wawrinka is currently playing the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California and has reached his fifth ATP quarter-final of the running year after defeating some top seed players like Nikolay Davydenko, Marin Cilic and Tomas
Berdych. He will once again face his fellow compatriot, the world number two Roger Federer in the quarter-final of the tournament. Surely Wawrinka will not desire to replicate the results he has previously produced in the big matches.
Wawrinka’s quarter-final encounter against Federer is anticipated to be a perfect opportunity for the youngster to make a breakthrough in the world of professional tennis. It is the best time for Wawrinka to prove his metal by
overcoming Federer and improve his world rankings. Certainly it will be a task of sorts for Wawrinka to topple the Swiss maestro, though he is well capable of doing so.
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