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Stan Wawrinka and Andy Roddick were among a group of players known for their consistency in the early to mid-2000s. However, this is not the case among the current crop of players, according to Dutch tennis player Robin Haase.
In an interview with Clay, Haase stated that, 10 years ago, the quality of the top 15-20 players in the world was "unbelievable," ensuring there were "only a few surprises" in the later stages of Grand Slams. However, the Dutchman believes their modern-day counterparts are "not as strong."
"Ten years ago you would have a really unbelievable top 20 or top 15. When going deep in Grand Slams they were only few surprises in the last 16. Now that top I would say is as not as strong as before. You had Roddick, Hewitt, Wawrinka, Davydenko, Nishikori. If you compare with now, it’s a little bit different. it’s a little bit weaker," he said
Haase, however, stated that the lower levels of the sport are much stronger today and pointed out how players on the Challenger tour can compete at the ATP level.
"But top one to 100, or 250; maybe even 400, is much stronger. The broader level of tennis is much better than it used to be. Now the guys that play Challengers, they can do well on the ATP level. 10-15 years ago it was much easier to win a Challenger. It’s pretty tough now," he added.
Keeping the comparison going, the former Australian Open doubles quarterfinalist observed the differences in how the two generations of players approached the sport.
"My generation and even the one before learned to play the ball in, and later it started to hit harder and harder. Nowadays what you see, is that players grow up hitting the ball as hard as they can," Haase continued.
"They go, go, go, and then start to learn how to not make many mistakes. It’s a different way of looking tennis. They just go for it, they don’t hold back," he concluded.
Stan Wawrinka and Andy Roddick's head-to-head record
Stan Wawrinka and Andy Roddick squared off against each other four times, with the Swiss winning three of those encounters.
Wawrinka defeated the American at the 2008 Italian Open and the 2009 Shanghai Masters. Roddick's only win over the Swiss player came in the WG first-round match between the USA and Switzerland in 2009.
Their final meeting on tour came in the 2011 Australian Open fourth round. The three-time Grand Slam champion brushed aside an aging Roddick in straight sets (6-3, 6-4, 6-4).
Wawrinka was beaten by his illustrious compatriot Roger Federer in the quarterfinals.
