By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, June 6, 2023
Stan Wawrinka aims to puncture perfection when he faces Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka is pumped at the prospect of his first grass clash vs. seven-time Wimbledon winner Djokovic though he’s not exactly brimming with confidence at breaking the Serbian’s 30-match Wimbledon winning streak.
“There’s zero opportunity to win Wimbledon for me, I think,” Wawrinka told the media after his 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over 29th-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry on No. 2 Court. “I’m happy to have won today again. I think it was great match. I’m playing better each match, and as I say, I think it’s an honor to play Novak here. I was missing that on my career to play him in the Grand Slam in Wimbledon.
“That’s the last [venue] I never played him, and it’s going to be a difficult challenge. Hopefully I can make a competitive match, but if you will look at recent results, I don’t really stand a chance.”
The 38-year-old Swiss, the oldest man in the singles field, can complete the career Grand Slam by winning Wimbledon. But Wawrinka, who defeated Djokovic in the 2015 Roland Garros final and 2016 US Open final, says Djokovic is simply flawless on grass. Djokovic has won 20 of 26 meetings vs. the sturdy Swiss.
“Don’t tell me the score” 😅@stanwawrinka is happy and excited by the challenge to face Novak Djokovic on grass for the first time 🌱#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/V3NZeCYRpD
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2023
“Have you seen him play (smiling)? Give me one weakness,” Wawrinka said of Djokovic. “I think he’s been an amazing player to play. He’s the perfect player. If you look, everything is so clean. He play the perfect shot in the right moment. I love to watch him play, as much as I was loving to watch Roger play.
“The the way he’s playing, he’s serving amazing, he’s returning everything. He can do everything. I’m not surprised at all.”
What will Wawrinka, who’s last win over Djokovic came at the 2019 US Open, need to do to disrupt the 23-time Grand Slam champion?
Wawrinka said he must bring his best to make it a battle.
“I have to be on the court, play my best tennis and like I did in the past, but right now it’s been a long time I didn’t play at that level,” Wawrinka said. “So it’s going to be interesting. Hopefully, as I say, I can make a competitive match and I can be there to have a fight. But if you look at recent results, it’s going to…
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