Stan Wawrinka started his 2024 Stockholm Open campaign with a win, and he doesn't seem to be in the mood to stop.
The 39-year-old Swiss player is already completing his 21st season on the ATP Tour. This year, he didn't have the same success as in 2023, as he has won only eight matches so far, which is far less than his 29 wins last year.
In addition, Wawrinka hasn't won consecutive matches this season, always losing in his first match at a tournament or already in the second one.
He's attempting to change that at the 2024 Stockholm Open, which is his first stop after competing at the Shanghai Masters, where he reached the second round but was robbed of a point in a crucial moment.
He started well at the ATP 250 event in Stockholm, beating an in-form Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 6-4 to reach the second round of the tournament. After his win, Wawrinka sat down with SpilXperten to discuss his win and career.
"I was feeling great. I have been feeling good in practising the last few days and I was feeling good on the court, so I was happy to play that level already from the first match. I was moving well and my game was aggressive. I am very happy with the victory."
Quickly after summarizing his first-round match, the 39-year-old player had to face a question that many athletes of his age have to face, and that was one about his retirement from the sport, as he never even hinted at when that might happen.
"I have never said, I am taking any decision regarding retirement this year. 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."
"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."
According to the Swiss player, if he didn't enjoy playing the sport, he wouldn't play it. Wawrinka thinks that tennis, like everything, is easier done with passion, which he certainly doesn't lack, as his determination to continue proves.
"Tennis is a game, so 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."
"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."
After winning his first-round match at the 2024 Stockholm Open, the 39-year-old will want to record his first back-to-back wins in his second-round match against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.