Stan Wawrinka Reveals the Toughest Opponent in the “Big 3”
Stan Wawrinka Reveals the Toughest Opponent in the “Big 3”
Throughout his 23-year tennis career, Stan Wawrinka has faced off against some of the greatest legends in the sport, including Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic—the trio famously known as the “Big 3”. After securing three Grand Slam titles, Wawrinka has finally revealed who he considers the toughest opponent among them.
The Most Formidable Rival in Wawrinka’s Career
In a recent conversation on the Nothing Major podcast, Wawrinka openly discussed the challenges of facing each member of the Big 3. Without hesitation, he admitted that Rafael Nadal was the most difficult player to compete against, especially on clay courts at Roland Garros.
Nadal – The Ultimate Challenge on Clay Courts
“All three—Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer—are incredibly strong opponents, but I think Rafa at Roland Garros is the toughest challenge,” Wawrinka shared.
“I faced him in the 2017 final, and I kept looking at the clock, just hoping the match would last at least an hour before he won.”
The Swiss player particularly emphasized the difficulty of dealing with Nadal’s relentless and powerful backhand shots.
“Every ball he hits comes from all angles, making it nearly impossible to find an opening to attack or force him out of position,” Wawrinka admitted.
Djokovic – A Favorite Opponent Despite Frequent Losses
However, when asked about his favorite opponent, Wawrinka chose Novak Djokovic.
“Even though I’ve lost over 20 times to Novak, I always enjoy playing against him. Even when I lost 6-0, 6-3 in the 2014 ATP Finals, I still found it enjoyable.”
Wawrinka praised Djokovic as a player with flawless technique, making every match against him an exciting challenge, even in defeat.
“Djokovic has incredibly precise strokes. Even when he beats you, you still feel fortunate to witness the perfection of an all-time great,” Wawrinka said.
Rejecting the “Big 5” Label
Additionally, Wawrinka expressed his discontent with being grouped into the so-called “Big 5”, which includes Andy Murray alongside the Big 3, simply because he also won three Grand Slam titles.
“It bothers me when people talk about ‘Big 5’ or compare me to Murray just because I have three Grand Slam titles. I am nowhere near their level, especially when it comes to Murray,” Wawrinka asserted.
Wawrinka’s candid reflections offer fans a deeper understanding of the intense competition among the sport’s top players, as well as the mutual respect and admiration they hold for one another, despite being fierce rivals on the court.
