Wawrinka Scores Emotional Victory in Shanghai

Posted by Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday October 3, 2024

Land No.236 Stan Wawrinka – aka the Stanimal – has seen better days. But that doesn’t stop the 39-year-old from being a fun-loving player. The three-time major champion is a fan favorite who is adored by fans around the world for his big heart and big game. Even if the wins don’t come as often as they used to.

Case in point: Thursday’s win over former Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at the Shanghai Masters. The Swiss fought off two tiebreaks to become the third oldest player to even win a Masters 1000 match.

Good news for Stanimal, who will face Italy’s Flavio Cobolli next.

Wawrinka hit 13 aces and saved three break points as he overcame the disappointment of missing six break points to beat Perricard in one hour and 47 minutes.

It was his 574th ATP win.

“Congratulations!” shouted Wawrinka after a match point, the crowd roared in response.

Wawrinka’s sixth win in 2024 from 13 losses is proof that the former World No. 3 still has plenty of game left – even if he doesn’t have it all season long.

“I’m not young,” he said. “So I try to keep pushing myself. I’m excited about the game tonight. I think it was a really good standard. It was one of the best games of the year for me.”

Wawrinka is the eighth-oldest player to enter the Masters 1000 main draw since the tournament’s inception in 1990. If he plays another year he could be the oldest…

He said the difference is confidence in both tiebreaks and taking the first step.

“Only the little things. Confidence in yourself, in the decisions you will make,” he said. “There were a lot of games with a lot of chances this year where I held my own defensively – I wasn’t confident. Tonight I was going to play my shot, I was playing something light but strong and that made the difference.”

Wawrinka jokes about his stature, but he seems to know deep down that he is doing well for his age. He has undergone knee surgery. Watch him play at his best and you will probably be amazed at the quality of strikes he produces when he is confident and relaxed.

In fact, he is a good player in any tournament he plays. So it’s a wild card. Fans lined up to watch, and they are thanking him for his efforts.

And he still has that charm.

“I know I had a super shit year,” he said with a smile as he spoke on the court. “I know where I am. But I think, in general, my level of practice is pretty good. Fitness and tennis wise I play well. I enjoy playing and I try to push myself.

“Yes, I want to get better in the rankings and I want to keep winning more, but sometimes you have to accept what happens. The only thing I can do is practice more and try to get better. Hopefully I can win some more games this year and try to finish in the Top 100.”