Wimbledon: Stan Wawrinka and Donna Vekic – The Timpani Pair

Today, Wednesday, Stan Wawrinka and his girlfriend Donna Vekic will play their second round matches in Wimbledon. The first performances of the tennis couple were promising.

When Stan Wawrinka was asked after Wimbledon’s very surprising opening day what he thought of his next job, he did not make his heart a murder pit. “I hadn’t even thought of that,” said the three-time Grand Slam Champion to the slight amazement of his audience, “the hurdle was actually too big at the beginning.

The hurdle was Grigor Dimitrov, the reigning ATP World Champion from Bulgaria. But Wawrinka passed this hurdle with his 1:6, 7:6, 7:6,. 6:4 success, and now – against his own expectations – he can and may take care of further opponents and further victories. For example the second round victory against the Italian Thomas Fabbiano, who was ranked 133rd in the world rankings.

Wawrinka himself is currently only number 224 in the ATP hit parade, but with the elimination of friend Dimitrov he has now opened up unexpected opportunities at the Grand Slam elimination games in London’s southwest. “With Stan, you never know where you stand. That’s the good or bad thing about him,” says former superstar John McEnroe, who is once again working for various TV stations in Wimbledon, “the tournament can certainly go a little further for him.

That would usually be a more poisoned prognosis. But after Wawrinkas long months of injury and the sporting disappointments also once again in the countdown to Wimbledon it is rather a recognition from the mouth of the former Superflegel. Who would have believed in Wawrinkas victory in this eagerly awaited showdown with Dimitrov, which under other circumstances would have been more likely to take place in the quarter-finals or semi-finals of such a tournament – especially after the disappointing performance of the Romand in Eastbourne against Andy Murray. The British hero dismantled Wawrinka in two sentences so clearly that it would have been easier to think that Wawrinka would then voluntarily give up a start in Wimbledon. But this was done by Murray, who continued to suffer, not by the 33-year-old man from Vaud.

On Wimbledon’s Centre Court, the world’s most famous tennis court, Wawrinka seemed transformed from the first set at the latest. In short, despite all the adversities, he suddenly took his heart in his hand and courageously sought his chance. He hadn’t just come here to look good. But to win with all due determination.

“It’s a really good feeling to have clinched this victory,” Wawrinka said visibly relieved afterwards. This was all the more true as Wawrinka fended off two set points in the decisive third act. In hindsight, it was the moment that steered the match in Wawrinkas direction and demoralised Dimitrov, the clear favourite.

Wawrinka can basically take a relaxed approach to his Wimbledon mission, he is not under any pressure after the literally painful course of the last weeks and months – after the two knee operations, the long effort in training and the extraordinarily tough comeback. “I have no expectations,” said the 33-year-old after the exploit on the main stage of the All England Club, “I just want to get closer and closer to my best level. That’s the first target.”

Wawrinka and his girlfriend Donna Vekic often had to cheer each other up and console each other when he or she had lost a match. Now, however, they were the drumbeat couple on Monday, after all Vekic had caused a veritable sensation before Wawrinka with the flawless victory over US Open Queen Sloane Stephens. The 22-year-old won the game so quickly that she was allowed to watch her jack of hearts at the Centre Court coup in peace of mind. “It was,” Vavrinka said with a smile, “the perfect day for both of us.”