Stan Wawrinka (left) of Switzerland and Novak Djokovic of Serbia pose prior to their 2016 Australian Open final. (Getty Images)
Stan Wawrinka is the winner of three Grand Slam titles while Novak Djokovic is a 17-time Grand Slam winner
Swiss star Stan Wawrinka relived some of his experiences playing against Novak Djokovic.
The Swiss star has had numerous meetings in the past with the current World No.1 and has at times proved to be a hurdle too big to climb for the Serbian.
Wawrinka recollected some of his memories with Djokovic while talking to Eurosport. He also came up with a controversial statement saying that he knew that the Serbian was afraid of him.
“Novak is a member of the Big Three, I like to play against him most. His style is the hardest for me, he has won me many times, I don’t even count anymore, but I know he is afraid of me. Mostly on the Grand Slams. He knows what I’m capable of,” Wawrinka said.
The Swiss also said that the 2013 Australian Open fourth-round match against Djokovic was a key moment in his career as it made him realise that he overcome the best tennis players in the world.
“It was one of my best matches ever. I was broken after the defeat, but it helped solidify me mentally. Something happened that day, I changed the level of the game and realized that day that I could beat the best tennis players in the world, as well as that I could have a better career,” Wawrinka explained.
Wawrinka has troubled the Serbian a lot in the Grand Slams, especially in the finals of the 2015 French Open and the 2016 US Open – both occasions during which he overcame Djokovic.
Despite dethroning Djokovic in the Grand Slams, the Serbian still leads the Swiss in head to head challenges.
The duo have met each other 25 times in the past, with Djokovic emerging the winner 19 times compared to Wawrinka’s five.
However, Wawrinka was the winner the last time they played against each other.
The World No.17 ousted the Serbian in the Round of 16 encounter at the 2019 US Open recently. Both of them have faced each other eight times in the Grand Slams, with each winning four times against the other.
However, since the 2015 Australian Open, Djokovic has never been able to beat the Swiss in a Major.
Follow our dedicated tennis page for instant news and updates
