Stan Wawrinka, the former world number three and three-time Grand Slam champion, has made a stunning return to form at the 2022 Diriyah Tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia.
In a remarkable feat of endurance and skill, the 36-year-old Swiss player defeated both Matteo Berrettini and Andrey Rublev on the same day to advance to the semifinals of the exhibition event. It was a performance that reminded fans of the Wawrinka of old, the player who fearlessly took on the biggest names in the game and emerged victorious on the biggest stages.
His powerful one-handed backhand and steely determination were on full display as he fought tooth and nail to overcome his younger, more in-form opponents. It was a remarkable achievement for Wawrinka, who has struggled with injuries and loss of form in recent years.
Many had written him off as a contender at the top level of the game, but this performance suggests that he still has plenty of gas left in the tank.
"I'm enjoying being on the court again playing some matches against the top players in the world. It's great to be here, a great atmosphere, thank you for coming and hopefully, you will come tomorrow," said Wawrinka during on-court interview.
Speaking about the first set against Rublev, which he lost, the Swiss said: "It was a tough first set, I didn't play well in the tiebreak, I was being too defensive. I wanted to try and be more aggressive, try to play my game, try to be on the court and be the aggressive player. I am happy with the level and hopefully I can play a good match tomorrow."
"I think I'm not playing bad for my age. I've been on tour for so many years, hopefully we play super tie-break in the third set so it's better for me. I've been practicing hard on the fitness side and on the tennis wise too. I love to play tennis, I love the competition, I love the process to get to my best game."
Regardless of the outcome of his semifinal match against Daniil Medvedev, Wawrinka can be proud of his achievements at the tournament. He has proved that, even at the age of 37, he is still capable of playing at the very highest level and competing with the best in the world. It remains to be seen whether he can continue this form into the next season, but for now, he can enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done.
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