Stan Wawrinka stated that he owed a lot to Roger Federer who embraced him like a big brother.
The two Swiss nationals won Olympic doubles gold medals in 2008 and also won the Davis Cup title for Switzerland in 2014. They also often train together in tournaments.
Federer had already won 17 Grand Slam titles when his compatriot won his first career Grand Slam title at the 2014 Australian Open.
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After that, she won two more Grand Slam titles, namely at the 2015 French Open and the 2016 US Open, and said that the influence of the former world number 1 on her career was very important.
“When I first arrived, Roger was already in top form. He embraced me like a big brother,” Wawrinka told Canal+.
“He helps me, we train a lot together. I’ve been lucky enough to train with him a lot, in training sessions and in tournaments. At the Davis Cup, we share a lot. After that, he became a friend.”
“We are on the same level, not in terms of our careers, but in terms of our behavior and our mutual support.”
“I owe him a lot in my career. There are some positives. I grew and developed thanks to him. He helped me a lot. Thanks to him, I won the Olympics and the Davis Cup. Those are the two biggest titles of my career.”
Federer, who turned 40, hung up his racket at the Laver Cup last September.
The former world number 3 is now 37 years old and still competing, but he is yet to return to his best form after battling a long leg injury.
He stated that he felt grateful to be able to play alongside one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
“No one else could do what he did, at least not in Switzerland. What I do, I do the best I can. You have to be able to appreciate a career like that,” said Stan Wawrinka.
Meanwhile, this week the Swiss tennis player is scheduled to participate in the Diriyah Cup, Saudi Arabia.
