The top-4 in world tennis is a tough place to break into. If you do, it’s an even tougher place to stay at; more so when you are not Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray.
After finishing at No.4 last year, it was hence important for Stan Wawrinka to not start this season on the wrong foot. A backslide into the path of a bunch of emerging youngsters would hardly be an auspicious beginning, especially after a breakout 2014.
With his third Aircel Chennai Open title following a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Slovene Aljaz Bedene on Sunday, Wawrinka ensured that the year started on the best possible note.
“A perfect week for me,” was how he described it after the final. “Really happy with my level [of play]. It’s tough to win an ATP title. The last one I won was in April last year. So it feels great.”
For all that Wawrinka did last year, not much suggested that he was comfortable in the company of the elite.
There was a constant search for consistency but in the end it was futile.
Even better this year
But, based on the past week’s form in Chennai, one can safely say that he has hit a patch which is a notch above his 2014 form. Like last year, he romped home without conceding a set, but without any of the jitters and nerves.
One of the noteworthy things about Sunday’s final was the way Wawrinka played the big points.
In each of his five service games in the first set, Bedene had him at 30-30. But every time he came up with a big serve.
So high was his confidence that, unlike Bedene’s earlier opponents who relentlessly attacked his backhand, Wawrinka routinely hit to the Slovene’s forehand.
Precision
But such was the precision and work on the ball that it was almost always a yard away from Bedene’s strike zone.
Wawrinka needed just two breaks of serve, one in the sixth game of the first set and the other in the seventh game of the second, to canter to victory, even as Bedene did not earn a single break-point.
“He was really good,” said Bedene. “Unfortunately, I was a bit tired. I didn’t hit the ball clean either.”
“But I am satisfied with my performance over this week. I was really excited as it was my first final. I couldn’t sleep yesterday. But I think I’ll get used to it,” he said with a laugh.
When Wawrinka won in 2014, his narrative was one of novelty.
But, with time and performance grows expectations, and he will undoubtedly feel the pressure as the defending Australian Open champion.
How the Swiss handles it will be known over the next few weeks, but he has certainly got the start he desired.
Later, Leander Paes lost his first Chennai Open final in seven appearances in the title round, as he and Raven Klaasen went down 6-3, 7-6 (4) to Jonathan Marray and Yen-Hsun Lu.
The results:
Finals: Stan Wawrinka (Sui) bt Aljaz Bedene (Slo) 6-3, 6-4.
Doubles: Yen-Hsun Lu & Jonathan Marray (Gbr) bt Leander Paes (Ind) & Raven Klaasen (Rsa) 6-3, 7-6(4).