PETE ZIEBRON
Swiss #1 Stan Wawrinka, 2014 Champion of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters Charles Gabrean Photography
World #3 Stan Wawrinka continued his impressive march in 2014 by defeating countryman and world #4 Roger Federer 4-6 7-6(5) 6-2 today in the final of the Rolex Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. With the win, Wawrinka assured that he would remain #3 in the world as well as the Swiss #1.
The victory was the first Masters 1000 title for Wawrinka and he became just the second player outside of the Big Four to win a Masters 1000 event in the last 30 tournaments. Earlier this year, he notched his first major, defeating world #1 Rafael Nadal in the Final of the Australian Open. With that victory, Wawrinka ended a 16 major winning streak by the Big Four and he joined Juan Martin del Potro as the only non-Big Four player to win a major in the last 36 Grand Slam tournaments.
Since this January, Stan Wawrinka has achieved the following:
- Snapped an 11 match losing streak to Roger Federer with today's win in Monte-Carlo
- Snapped a 14 match losing streak to Novak Djokovic with his win in the Australian Open semifinals
- Won his first match ever in 13 attempts against Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open Final
- Won his first set ever against Nadal after losing all 26 sets previously played against Nadal in the Australian Open Final
- Ended an 11 Masters 1000 tournament winning streak by the Big Four today in Monte-Carlo
- Became only the 2nd non-Big Four player in the last 30 Masters 1000's to win the tournament (Ferrer)
- Ended a 16 Major winning streak by the Big Four by winning the Australian Open
- Became only the 2nd non-Big Four player to win a Major in the last 36 Grand Slam tournaments (del Potro)
Stan Wawrinka started 2014 on a 13 match winning streak, including titles in Chennai and at the Australian Open. Then he would go on to lose 3 of his next 5 matches, to; Kevin Anderson in the round of 16 at Indian Wells, to Alexandr Dogopolov in the round of 16 in Miami and to Andrey Golubev in the first rubber in the Davis Cup quarterfinals at home in Geneva, Switzerland.
In the early rounds of the tournament in Monte-Carlo, Wawrinka admitted that he was beginning to find the form that he exhibited in January, prior to the earlier than expected exits at Indian Wells and Miami: "Well, since I've been here I have cleared up my head. The Davis Cup also helped me. It helped me, especially now that Roger is playing in the team. I had very positive conversations with my coach and now I know exactly what I'm looking for.
I know I am supposed to be among the favorites, but every time I play a match I am in the state of mind of a challenger who is trying to win an additional match."
In addition, Wawrinka looks forward to the clay court season as he continues to work on improving his form: "Now the clay court season is just starting and I'm always very pumped up for that particular moment of the year. I'm aware of my strengths, and I know that I must practice a lot and prepare well."
Meanwhile, Wawrinka elaborated a bit on his success that has allowed him to crash the Big Four party in 2014: "I'm still working a lot on my game outside the tournament. I'm trying to still improve my forehand, trying to still work on the serve. It's the same thing I'm doing since many years. Maybe that's why I'm so good now. During the last four, five years I didn't change. Like when things went wrong, I focus on what I want to improve, try to be more aggressive, but not be extreme, to be tough with myself every time.
I know on clay I have a little bit more time. It's better for me. I can always make one more shot.
Yeah, I still trying to improve a lot of part of my game."
So far so good for Stan Wawrinka in 2014: Australian Open Champion, Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 Champion, a World #3 ranking and current leader in the Emirates ATP Race to London. Next stop for Stan: the Mutua Madrid Open Masters 1000 in early May.