Stan Wawrinka, the defending champion and top seed at the Aircel Chennai Open, said at a press conference here on Monday that 2014 had been an “amazing year”.
He said the New Year was going to be interesting, with the new generation trying to break through.
Excerpts:
On expectations from the New Year
I am ready for the year to start. I’ll have to start from zero again. I am feeling well, practising well. It’s going to be tough to do it all again, but I’ll try my best.
On emerging out of Federer’s shadow
I am doing things my own way, the way I think is best for me. I’ve had an amazing career. I hope to keep winning matches and tournaments. That’s important.
On a possible meeting with Borna Coric in the second round
He’s a good player, young, raring to go. I practised with him last year. He’s got a big game, for sure. It’s going to be a tough match.
On his mid-season slump after the Australian Open
You always want to have more. But I think last year was amazing. Winning a Grand Slam (Australian Open), the Chennai Open, and Monte Carlo… and the Davis Cup triumph. It was quite fulfilling. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
On reports of friction between Federer and himself after the ATP World Tour final
What happened? We won the Davis Cup together, and that’s what happened! It was great winning the Davis Cup and celebrating together as a team. We also played an exhibition match together.
On what it means to win the Davis Cup
Davis Cup is very important, I have been playing it for more than 10 years. It’s great to represent your country. It’s a great feeling to win the Davis Cup with Roger. We had some tough ties but we finished it well.
On the new generation
It’s going to be an interesting year. It will be really interesting to see who is going to win the big titles. I still think that Novak (Djokovic), Roger and Rafa (Nadal) are going to be there and win a lot of big tournaments if they are not injured. With the young generation — Cilic, Nishikori and Raonic — trying to break through, it’s going to be interesting.
On Nadal’s comeback
He’s been dealing with injury for many months. If he is fit, he can win any tournament.
On whether it is easy to stay in the top 4
It’s going to be really, really difficult. It’s tough to get there, but tougher to stay there. As I said before, it’s a new beginning. I have to start from zero.
