Wawrinka: 'Crucial factor is loving what you do'

Athens

Wawrinka: ‘Crucial factor is loving what you do’

Swiss displays on inspiring the subsequent era of stars

November 04, 2025

Stan Wawrinka penned an emotional social media publish after final month’s Swiss Indoors Basel about his ardour for tennis. It’s that angle that has led many younger gamers to look as much as the 40-year-old and attempt to turn out to be just like the three-time main champion.

What would his message be for these making an attempt to comply with in his footsteps?

“I believe on the finish an important [thing] is loving what you do,” Wawrinka informed ATPTour.com on the Vanda Prescription drugs Hellenic Championship in Athens. “It’s having fun with the method, having fun with the street. [Being a] tennis participant, it’s a tremendous life. In the event you’re captivated with your sport, it’s so particular to have the ability to journey the world to play tennis.”

There’s a new crop of Swiss gamers rising by way of the PIF ATP Rankings who grew up watching Wawrinka carry out on the highest degree and have been capable of take up classes from the previous World No. 3 as they’ve joined him on Tour.

Leandro Riedi and Jerome Kym reached the fourth spherical and the third spherical of the US Open, respectively, whereas 18-year-old Henry Bernet gained this 12 months’s Australian Open boys’ singles title and this week competed in the identical occasion as Wawrinka in Athens.

“For me it’s all the time wonderful to see the brand new era coming,” Wawrinka mentioned. “I’m so blissful additionally to have the possibility to play with them and to play in opposition to them. It’s all the time particular as a participant to have the ability to play completely different generations.

“You all the time hope that extra gamers will come — extra younger gamers will come — as a result of that’s what you wish to see.”

There are numerous followers of Wawrinka world wide. ’Stan the Man’ is a large fan of the game himself, and mentioned “for the followers it’s been wonderful to look at]” tennis this 12 months.

“There are completely different generations enjoying in opposition to one another,” Wawrinka mentioned. “After all you’ve got Sinner and Alcaraz on the prime of the rankings, however Novak continues to be there making an attempt to maintain reaching wonderful objectives, so it’s all the time particular.

“You have got so many alternative personalities, completely different gamers enjoying this sport, in order a fan of tennis, you’ll be able to solely get pleasure from that.”

Loads of followers will get pleasure from Wawrinka’s showdown Wednesday in opposition to second seed Lorenzo Musetti. The Italian should win the Athens title to earn the ultimate qualification spot for the Nitto ATP Finals.

“He has a [big] problem in entrance of him for getting there and it’s essential for him after all,” Wawrinka mentioned after his first-round win in opposition to Botic van de Zandschulp. “It’s a giant problem [facing him]. He’s enjoying so effectively. I’ve watched him play many matches this 12 months, so I’m wanting ahead to enjoying him and seeing the place I’m.”