PETE ZIEBRON
Stan Wawrinka in action this summer in Cincinnati. Pete Ziebron Images
Stan Wawrinka put an exclamation point on his outstanding 2014 campaign as he and Roger Federer teamed to win the Davis Cup for Switzerland last Sunday.
Earlier in 2014, Stan started the year with a title at the 250 tournament in Chennai, India and continued to ride that momentum to the Australian Open title. Along the way in Melbourne, Wawrinka defeated 2-time defending Champion Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, #7 seed Tomas Berdych in the semis and the then #1 player in the world, Rafael Nadal in the final.
A few months later, Wawrinka would capture his first Masters 1000 title on the clay in Monte Carlo, coming from one set down to beat Roger Federer in the final. However this would be the 3rd and last title of the year that Wawrinka would win, prior to helping to secure the Davis Cup title with Federer against France.
Following Monte-Carlo, Wawrinka's best result in a tournament was a semifinal berth at Queen's Club in London, Wawrinka did reach the quarterfinals at both Wimbledon and the US Open. Coming into the World Tour Finals, Wawrinka had lost 4 of 5 matches but managed to steady his game in London, where he advanced to the semifinals before falling to Federer.
Less than one week later, Wawrinka topped Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to open the Davis Cup tie with France. The following day, with the Davis Cup rubber squared at one, Wawrinka and Federer teamed to defeat Julien Benneteau and Richard Gasquet in straight sets, setting the table for Federer to clinch the win the next day over Gasquet to give Switzerland its first Davis Cup Championship. Stan elaborated on the accomplishment: "Clearly it is an exceptional year for me. I've been dreaming of this Davis Cup for years."
Signs of a breakthrough in the career of Stan Wawrinka started appearing at the 2013 Australian Open, where he battled valiantly against eventual Champion Novak Djokovic, losing the 5th set 12-10 in a 4th round match. In February Wawrinka reached the final of a 250 clay court tournament in Buenos Aires and then won a 250 clay event in Oeiras, Portugal in April.
Stan continued his brilliant play on clay, marching to the Madrid Masters 1000 final, losing to Rafael Nadal. Stan would meet Nadal again in the Roland Garros quarters, losing to the eventual Champion again.
After a finals appearance on the grass in s-Hertogenbosch, Wawrinka would play mediocre tennis until he reached New York. In each of his first 5 matches at the US Open, Wawrinka would face a difficult opponent but managed to beat them all: Stepanek, Karlovic, Baghdatis, Berdych & Murray.
Next up was the #1 player in the world, Novak Djokovic. It would be the first time that Stan would face Djokovic since their epic battle at the Australian Open in January. Despite jumping out to a 2 sets to 1 lead, Wawrinka would fall to Djokovic, however he was knocking on the door, his confidence building against the world's best player.
Wawrinka would play Djokovic 2 more times in 2013 following the US Open, losing both contests, including in the semifinals of the World Tour Finals. However, Stan Wawrinka arrived in 2014 with a mindset of belief, against Novak Djokovic and the entire ATP field.
Stan Wawrinka reached a career high of #3 in the world in 2014. He ended the year at #4, with titles in Chennai, the Australian Open, Monte Carlo Masters 1000 and the Davis Cup.