The Swiss are known for their cheese, chocolates and Roger Federer. Not many have heard of Switzerland's No 2 tennis player Stanislas Wawrinka
The Swiss are known for their cheese, chocolates and Roger Federer. Not many have heard of Switzerland's No 2 tennis player Stanislas Wawrinka. His claim to fame is that he partnered Fedex to Beijing Olympic doubles glory.
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He refused to share any secrets on Federer. "We are great friends. Winning the doubles gold with him was fantastic,'' said Wawrinka
Wawrinka has been making steady progress and yesterday, he scored a 6-3, 6-4 win over American Mike Russell to book a place in the quarter-finals of the Aircel ATP Chennai Open at the Nungamkbakkam Tennis Stadium.
There is no flash or dash in the Swiss man's play.
He keeps slugging away from the baseline and Russell did him plenty of favours by making a number of unforced errors.
The 24-year-old who hails from Lausanne and is currently ranked No 21, left school at the age of 15. "It was the natural line for me, the right path to follow with my tennis," he noted.
The Swiss ace married his long-time partner Ilham Vuilloud a television presenter in Switzerland last December. It was of course a quiet and private ceremony. Ilham is expecting in February. "I am very happy. Fatherhood will be the best thing to happen to me," Wawrinka said breaking into a smile.
His surname Wawrinka is of Polish descent, but he is only Polish by ancestry. His father Wolfram is German and his mother Isabelle isu00a0 Swiss. Both his parents work in a biodynamic farm helping handicapped people. "It is a wonderful thing they are doing for society."
He is good buddies with Britain's No1 Andy Murray. "We get on very well. We love going go-karting together."
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