Stanislas Wawrinka discusses his place in the Swiss tennis pecking order, along with compatriot Roger Federer.
“To be Swiss No. 2 after Roger is still amazing,” Wawrinka told the <em>Independent</em>. “He’s a special tennis player, the best player ever. He has won everything. He’s in a different league, on a different level. I’m No. 2 in Switzerland, but I feel like No. 1, because he is just in a league of his own.”
Wawrinka is currently ranked No. 8, with Federer at No. 6. At this year’s U.S. Open, the 28-year-old went further than Federer did at a Grand Slam for the first time in his career when he reached the quarterfinals. Tommy Robredo upset Federer in the fourth round. This season is the first time since 2002 that Federer hasn’t reached a Grand Slam final.
“I think this year a lot of things have changed—especially in Switzerland but also in the tennis world,” Wawrinka said. “I was the last Swiss player at the U.S. Open and everyone in Switzerland was watching. I feel good with my position. I’m enjoying what I’m doing. People in Switzerland are supporting me much more than they did in the past.”