Stan Wawrinka didn’t really get his kick in last season after his knee operation in 2017 and is now working on an improved fitness in the off-season.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in 2017, Novak Djokovic managed it last season. A picture book comeback after a long break. Stan Wawrinka’s situation is different.
The return to the Tour was much more difficult for the Swiss than for his colleagues and had to accept that his fitness was not yet at the highest level. An attempt to return at the beginning of 2018 failed, but the hoped-for results did not materialise in the summer.
Only towards the end of the year did Wawrinka convince at the tournament in St. Petersburg. At the major tournaments, however, the hoped-for results failed to materialize and “Stan the man” finished the year in 66th place in the world rankings. Too little for the triple major winner. In the coming year, however, the old hierarchy is to be restored and Wawrinka wants to return to the top of the world.
The Swiss player’s game is characterized above all by his physical presence and Wawrinka is regarded as one of the most robust players on the tour. This is what Wawrinka is currently working on with his team in the off-season to find back to old strength.
The Swiss doesn’t lose his humour with all the sweaty work and likes to show himself at work in the social media. Wawrinka always has a relaxed saying on her lips, as “Stan” writes under one of his fitness pictures: “If your coach tells you that there is no more dessert.” Wawrinka probably points to his strained facial expression.
Wawrinka is working on improved fitness with Pierre Paganini. The Swiss is regarded as one of the best fitness coaches in the tennis circuit and trains Federer, among others. The Swiss trio have been working together successfully for years and Paganini brought Federer and Wawrinka back to the tennis court after injuries.
Where Wawrinka will start into the new season is still unclear. In recent years, the first contact point for the Swiss was the opening tournament in Brisbane, but official confirmation of his participation in Australia is still pending.