I love being a tennis player

39-year-old Wawrinka became the second oldest player to win a match at the ATP 250 event in Stockholm, and the oldest since 1999. He will face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the second round. In other action in Stockholm, Tommy Paul, Dominic Stricker, Casper Ruud and Tallon Griekspoor reached the quarterfinals.

“You need to enjoy what you are doing, and if you are passionate about what you are doing, you need to keep going, and that’s what I will do,” Wawrinka told Nicolas Albek of SpilXperten after his 575th career ATP win.

“The motivation has to come from inside. If you have to force yourself to keep being motivated, that means you are not passionate enough about what you are doing. It’s not easy every day, but I love being a tennis player, so that’s why it is easy to push myself.”

Wawrinka says that retirement is not in his plans, at least not for now.

“I have said I am becoming older, and of course I am close to the end, but I am still playing well and being competitive when I play,” he said. “I enjoy what I am doing and enjoy waking up and going to practise and still have the chance to play at such a nice tournament like here. As long as I am enjoying that, I am going to keep pushing a little bit.

“I think it is amazing to be a tennis player and when I was a kid, I dreamed of doing that as a job. I have had the chance to win many trophies, even many big trophies and I had the chance to achieve more of what I call my dream. I will keep pushing.”