Will Stan Wawrinka spoil Rafael Nadal’s French Open party?
Rafael Nadal has been playing resurgent tennis all year long and racking up title after title during the clay season. He’s all but assured to collect his record 10th Roland Garros trophy, but there are several reasons why Stan Wawrinka will pose a serious threat.
Rafael Nadal owns 14 grand slams and is going for his 15th on Sunday, but the slam title that puts him over tennis legend Pete Sampras will be a hard-fought win against a formidable opponent, Stan Wawrinka, who’s managed to peak again in a grand slam tournament.
The Swiss player, seeded one higher than the Spaniard here, may lack the consistency of Rafa, but he has this annoying knack of bringing his A-game once he reaches a grand slam final. Always coming in under the radar, he’s won every grand slam final he’s been in. Tied with Murray with major slam titles, his winning percentage of 100 percent is much higher. His fearless play has earned him the nickname “Stanimal” and here are the reasons why he’s a big threat come Sunday.
Stan Wawrinka has the better winning record in grand slams in the last three years
The last time Rafa won a grand slam was the 2014 French Open. That was also the same year Wawrinka won his first slam, the Australian against Rafa. Between the two he’s won the more recent French Open, in a 2015 final against Novak Djokovic. And then beat him again at last year’s US Open. Between Rafa and Wawrinka, he’s won a grand slam title a year since he emerged as a real contender three years ago. All three titles came with a four-set victory. We know if Sunday’s match goes to four, the odds may just be in Wawrinka’s favor. If it weren’t for the Swiss irritant, Djokovic would be sitting with an equal amount of slams to Rafa. The Spaniard has to be grateful for that.
“Mentally, when I arrive on a big tournament or in a big match, it’s like closing, switching off everything in my body except my brain, which I put in winning mode,” said Wawrinka to BBC. “Of course, I can lose, but I think I’m extremely confident about what I do, about how I feel, about all the hard work I have accomplished over the past days, weeks, months, years. I know that mentally when I’m there, it’s difficult to beat me.”
Wawrinka’s won several meetings with Nadal recently
Nadal overwhelmingly owns their head-to-head and the last two matches have gone the Spaniard’s way, but the Swiss also beat him twice in 2015 at the World Tour Masters and the Rome clay tournament, in addition to the Australian Open final in 2014. The 14-time grand slam champ is wary of his hard-hitting ability and will not take their meeting on Sunday for granted.
“It’s true that when he hits hard, he hits really hard. Stopping him can be difficult,” said Nadal to BBC. “I know he’s dangerous when he plays aggressively, so I need to limit his possibilities. I will play very aggressively, and I don’t want him to take control – easy to say, but it may not be that easy to do.”
Wawrinka is mentally strong
He’s beaten both Nadal and Djokovic at the pinnacle of their tennis dominance. When the other Swiss great was getting spooked by Djokovic at the 2015 Wimbledon and US Open finals, Wawrinka didn’t seem to have that problem and took him out at the French and Flushing Meadows with ease. “Stan the Man” has a way of performing his best in grand slam finals. He’s kind of scary that way. He’s also got the same coach who’s helped him achieve his trifecta of grand slams, starting with the first in 2014. That coach would be Magnus Norman, who will be sitting in his player’s box on Sunday.
All of Stan Wawrinka’s slam titles have come in the last few years, prompting The Economist to label him “tennis’s great latecomer.” John McEnroe also said in 2009 that he has “the best one-handed backhand in the game.”
His other nickname is “Diesel,” by his compatriot Federer, for his uncanny ability to play with a full tank of gas when he needs it.
Who will win?
Clay is the best surface for both Wawrinka and Nadal.
All that aside, I believe Rafael Nadal will walk away with his “La Decima” Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy come Sunday. Wawrinka’s slam titles came during a dip in Nadal’s prowess, in the last few years, when he was plagued with injuries. Rafa is playing renaissance tennis and has powered through the entire clay season as the true dominant clay master.
But I don’t think it will be easy. I think Stan will be a force to be reckoned with. Get the popcorn ready for what’s probably going to be another thriller à la française.