• Tennis

Wawrinka: Federer was going crazy for me

ESPN staff
January 28, 2014
Wawrinka not thinking about future slams

Stanislas Wawrinka has revealed that Roger Federer congratulated him immediately after his victory over Rafael Nadal in the final of the Australian Open on Sunday.

Wawrinka captured his maiden Grand Slam after beating an injured Nadal in four sets, and has climbed to No. 3 in the world rankings. He has also become the Swiss No. 1 as well, overtaking the player he lived in the shadow of for many years, Federer.

Stan the man in Australian Open mind game

Stanislas Wawrinka won his maiden grand slam in Melbourne © Getty Images
  • Stanislas Wawrinka's Australian Open triumph proved to everyone - himself included - that he has the physical ability to match the world's very best, but perhaps even more importantly he showed the mental fortitude to go with it as well, writes Chris Wilkinson.
  • Click here to read the full column

And Wawrinka says Federer is not jealous of him at all after becoming Switzerland's top-ranked player, instead commenting that the record 17-time major champion was delighted for him on his triumph over Nadal.

"He called me straight away to congratulate me. Roger was going crazy - he was so happy. He has been in that situation so many times so he knows the feeling and he was delighted," Wawrinka said. "He is my first supporter, he is always there."

Wawrinka became the first player to beat the top two seeds at a Grand Slam, Nadal (world No. 1) and Novak Djokovic (world No. 2), in 21 years, and he says other players will begin to believe they can defeat the top players in the future.

"Some players will realise it's possible now to win a Grand Slam. All the top 15 players felt we had more chance to beat them this time. I showed from the beginning of this year that I am playing my best tennis," he said.

"And when I am playing my best tennis I can beat all the players. I can beat Novak, I can beat Rafa in a Grand Slam final or semi-final so everybody will be expecting me to get another great result in the next Grand Slam."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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