Wawrinka is 'underestimated', says coach Norman

[July 16, 2020]  (Reuters) - Stan Wawrinka is one of the best to have ever played tennis but the three-times Grand Slam champion is a "little bit underestimated", his long-time coach Magnus Norman has said.

Wawrinka, 35, was the last man to win a Grand Slam singles title outside the trio of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic when he won the 2016 U.S. Open.

He is one only one of three players to have defeated Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray at Grand Slams.

"Stan is one of the best players to ever play the game, if you look at his record, if you look at winning three Grand Slams, winning three different Grand Slams in the era where he had the Big Four playing," Norman told ATP Tennis Radio.

"He's a little bit underestimated for sure ... He's had an unbelievable career."

Swede Norman, a former world number two and Roland Garros finalist in 2000, worked with Wawrinka from 2013-2017 and has again been part of his coaching team since 2018 as the Swiss makes his way back following two left knee surgeries in 2017.

Wawrinka made the quarter-finals of the French Open and U.S. Open in 2019 and also reached the last eight at this year's Australian Open. After sliding down the rankings to No. 263 in 2018, he is currently 17th in the world.

Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka in action during his match against Germany's Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo

"It's been a little bit up and down. He doesn't have the same stability as Andy Murray or Novak or Roger or Rafa, but in his best moments, I think he can beat all of those names on a very good day," Norman said.

"That's what makes him a little bit special.

"Stan is a gambler. He plays with small margins. He's the kind of guy that will put everything in red, do or die."

(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; editing by Peter Rutherford)

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