Stan Wawrinka

It can be exceptionally tough to emerge out of the shadow of a famous countryman like Roger Federer. However, Stan Wawrinka has successfully managed to carve his own identity through fantastic performances and fearless gameplay, which have enthralled fellow players and experts. Wawrinka has won three grand slam titles so far, winning the 2014 Australian Open, 2015 French Open and 2016 US Open. While this achievement is certainly commendable enough, there is another unique aspect that makes the feat even grander. Wawrinka managed to win these prestigious tournaments after defeating the player ranked number 1 in the world rankings at that point, in the final on all three occasions. Getting the better of the best player at a particular point in time can be a strong challenge, but emerging victorious on three different instances across periods truly showcases the class of Wawrinka.

The Swiss tennis star has won 16 singles career titles so far, with another significant accomplishment achieved in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Wawrinka teamed up with none other than Federer himself to lead the nation on to a gold medal in the men's doubles event. The duo defeated Americans Bob and Mike Bryan in the semifinals in straight sets, before going on to win the gold with a triumph against Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson of Sweden. One of the other significant achievements in Wawrinka's career is the fact that he is one of the only three players who have managed to beat Novak Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and Andy Murray at Grand Slams.

Former coach Magnus Norman certainly rates the Swiss star extremely highly as evident from his remarks in an exclusive interview with Technogym.

"Without a doubt, Stan Wawrinka is one of the best players on the circuit. If you look at his record, you can see that he managed to win the three Slam titles with all the 'Fab Four' players present. There have been ups and downs, but he has shown that he can beat all these opponents when he is in top form. This makes him an extraordinary player, who gives everything on the field and fights until the end," he stated.

Wawrinka's backhand is considered one of the strongest in the history of the game. It is one of the most valuable attributes in his arsenal. However, Wawrinka's backhand has been developed on the back of a focussed and dedicated routine that involved its fair share of hard work and self-confidence.

"My backhand is something I have worked on my whole life, like the rest of my game. I think it’s like anything in life, nothing is an overnight success. It’s taken years and years of me spending time on court fine-tuning every little detail. It takes hard work and belief in myself that one day it will be one of my best shots," said the Swiss star in an interaction with Technogym.

The Swiss star has further earned the nickname of "Stanimal" for his intensity and ability to pull off triumphs when it matters the most. Wawrinka's intensity has been developed on the back of a lot of concentration during gym sessions, enabling him to continue battling it out under immense pressure.

"Gym training is a huge part of my life and career. Tennis is an extremely physical sport and if my body is not in the right condition, results won't come. Everything I do in the gym is done for a purpose: to be in top form when on the court and compete against the best in the world," he added.

Grand Slam singles record

Australian Open: W (2014)

French Open: W (2015)

Wimbledon: QF (2014, 2015)

US Open: W (2016)