ATP: Stan Wawrinka gives himself a few more months

Stan Wawrinka is making his European comeback in Sofia. The Swiss, currently number 15 in the world, has prepared for a difficult journey back to the top of the world.

Stan Wawrinka’s programme for the coming weeks is quite sporty: The three-time Major Champion has been nominated as a replacement for Grigor Dimitrov in Sofia and will then compete in Rotterdam before going on to the major US tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami. In the Bulgarian capital, the opening is not easy for Wawrinka, Martin Klizan is one of the more uncomfortable opponents on the tour – the Slovakian has made it into the main draw after qualifying and is regarded as a player whose performances can fluctuate enormously.

The main task for Wawrinka, however, will be to bring constancy back into his game. At the Australian Open, the 2014 champion became the first prominent victim of the amazing Tennys Sandgren, and after a break of more than six months, the match came a little early. Especially as Wawrinka had to cancel his participation in all preparation tournaments.

In Sofia, the 32-year-old is already more optimistic these days:”Since the first day I came back from Australia, I have worked hard on my physical fitness and also on my tennis,”Wawrinka is quoted on the official tournament page. He feels better every day, he would have gone on the trip to Melbourne without any major sporting ambitions.

“I knew I wasn’t ready to play at a good level. But the start of the first Grand Slam tournament of the year was an important test, mentally and above all for his operated knee. It had been very hard to pause for so long.

However, the experienced person does not give up illusions anyway. Wawrinka assumes that it will take him six months to regain his highest level – the same time that the injury had knocked him out of action.

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