ATP/WTA: Murray, Wawrinka, Azarenka: Is the turnaround going well?

Grand Slam winners on the hunt: Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray suffered several setbacks in the 2018 season. Both want to achieve the turnaround next year. Victoria Azarenka wants to play her way back to the top of the world among women.

Andy Murray has proved his very own dry humor again recently. The Scotsman posted a photo of him sitting next to a Santa Claus. But Santa Clause was accused of being fake because he didn’t let him sit on his lap. This is how we know “Sir Andy” – and many hope that they will soon see the 31-year-old again in his usual form on the courts of this world.

If you believe the bush radio, then Murray is quite good after the training sessions in Miami to be able to attack again in the new year. It’s supposed to pinch now and then, but which pro at his age is different? Behind the two-time Wimbledon winner lies a difficult time in only six tournaments after a hip operation at the beginning of the year and a subsequent record of 7-5 wins.

Former industry leader Murray starts his comeback mission as world number 259. His participation in the tournament in Brisbane (from 31 December) is planned, the first test will be the Australian Open (from 14 January), where he reached the final five times between 2010 and 2016.

Most recently, Murray trained on the course in Crandon Park, the former venue of the Miami Open, among others with his colleagues Fabio Fognini and Fernando Verdasco – and is said to have cut a good figure.

Another former Major Champion, Stan Wawrinka, is planning to roll up the field from behind – from 66th place. After a holiday with Freudin Donna Vekic in the Maldives, the 33-year-old Swiss rider last worked on his fitness with Pierre Paganini. Knowing that his game is built on a strong physique.

Paganini is considered to be one of the best fitness makers in the circuit and trains Roger Federer, among others. After a knee surgery in 2018, “Stan the Man” never regained its former strength. The three-time Major Champion, once number three in the world, only managed a balanced match record last season (17:17).

Victoria Azarenka would like to know again about the ladies. After a custody dispute over her now two-year-old son Leo and a month-long forced break, the 29-year-old did not return to the tour until March 2018.

Although the two-time Australian Open winner, who is currently ranked 51st in the world, reached the semi-finals at her second tournament in Miami, there were no resounding successes. Especially at the Grand Slam events: In Paris “Vika” failed in the first lap, in Wimbledon in the second lap and in Flushing Meadows in the third lap.

The former Kerber coach Wim Fissette is supposed to help Azarenka back on track. Both trained a few weeks ago in the academy of Nick Bollettieri in Bradenton/Florida. The Belgian Fissette had already cared for the Belarusian in 2015/2016 until Azarenka had to take a break because of her pregnancy.