“Without Roger Federer, It’s Not The Same” – Stan Wawrinka on Playing Team Events

In the year 2014, the Swiss nation tennis team got an opportunity to lift the Davis Cup crown. They defeated the home-favorite team France in the city of Lille. The country of Switzerland held the prestigious cup of tennis alongside their two best tennis players of their nation, the Basel boy Roger Federer and the Lausanne’s lad Stan Wawrinka.

During the finals, the duo had played phenomenal tennis of their careers and till date, they reminisce their epic victory. Recently three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka was asked is he willing to play Davis Cup once again in his career.

To no one’s surprise, Wawrinka doesn’t enjoy team competitions without his legendary compatriot Federer. Right now his body cannot support him to play more tournaments in a calendar year. Also, Stan is not in favor of the revamped format of the Davis Cup.

It is complicated. At my age, I can no longer afford to be on all fronts, I have to select the tournaments. I don’t like the Davis Cup in its new format at all. And then without Roger, it’s not the same,” he told L’Illustré.

“Not that I didn’t want to play with lower-ranked guys, I did for ten years. When I was young, what made me the dream was the Davis Cup. Today everything has changed a lot.”

Nevertheless, Stan loves playing with the Swiss team and interacting with them. His best memories of his career are from team events. The ‘Fedrinka’ pair held a Gold medal during the Beijing Olympics in 2008. That victory remains close to their hearts, and arguably the medal for their nation is more special to them than their Grand Slam titles.

“I love team matches. Many of my best memories are from the Davis Cup. I played it for eleven years and had immense pleasure every time, not just the year we won. I will never forget my first selection, the 2003 semi-final in Australia. I was present as a sparring partner for the team. We experienced incredible things,” Wawrinka added.

On the ATP circuit, Wawrinka seems to miss the US Open in August. He would most likely resume his tour during the European clay-court season. As he has already begun his training sessions on clay.