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Ahead of his much-touted return to the ATP tour, Stan Wawrinka has lauded his compatriot Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for being "exceptional" throughout their respective careers.
Federer and Nadal, along with Novak Djokovic, are widely regarded as three of the best players in the game's history. Djokovic (20) and Federer (20) closely follow Nadal (21) on the all-time Grand Slam leaderboard. The Serb (37), Nadal (36) and Federer (28) are also the all-time Masters 1000 title leaders.
Federer and Nadal have made triumphant returns from injury layoffs in the last few years. Asked if he had drawn inspiration from that for his own return from injury, Wawrinka replied in the negative, but said that he had always admired the legendary duo.
In a press conference ahead of his first-round match at the 2022 Monte Carlo Masters against Alexander Bublik, he said:
"Well, inspiration, no, because they were always exceptional. They did what other players were not able to do. I admired them."
The three-time Grand Slam champion was quick to include Novak Djokovic in the discussion, calling the Serb, Federer and Nadal one of a kind.
"With Novak, they are part of a category that is out of the norm."
Wawrinka last played on the ATP tour in Doha in March 2021, where he lost to Lloyd Harris.
How has Stan Wawrinka fared against Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal?
Stan Wawrinka, expectedly, has a losing record against both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
The World No. 236 has won only three of his 26 meetings with Federer. Two of Wawrinka's wins against his more illustrious compatriot have come in Monte-Carlo, including one in the final in 2014. His other victory over Federer also came on clay, in the quarterfinals of 2015 Roland Garros en route to the title. He has lost his last seven matches against Federer (not including a walkover in 2019 Basel).
Wawrinka also has only three wins against Nadal, while losing 19 times. Wawrinka's first victory against Nadal came in the 2014 Australian Open final, where the Swiss beat the Spaniard to lift the first of his three Grand Slam singles titles.
Wawrinka's two other victories against the legendary Spaniard came in 2015, at the Rome Masters and Paris Masters. The former World No. 3 has lost his last six matches against Nadal.
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