Wawrinka looking forward to ATP comeback after practice match with Thiem: "I still have in me what it takes"
ATPTuesday, 29 March 2022 at 12:55
Stan Wawrinka is back playing tennis and will be involved in this week's challenger in Marbella alongside another injury-struck former Grand Slam winner in Dominic Thiem.
At the age of 36, he is using this as a springboard onto the clay court season having not been able to put together a sustained run for a couple of seasons and he sees small signs that he can still play towards his best.
“I see that I still have in me what it takes to be able in the future if things go well in the other areas (physical and tennis), to hang on against the best and win matches – I’m not where I want to be in terms of fitness yet, but my body allows me to push three-four hour training days,” he told Le Matin.
“There with Thiem, it was two hours of high intensity and the level was there, now we will have to do it in matches, repeat it day after day – this is the goal for the next few weeks, see how the foot reacts in competition, as emotions cause the body to behave differently.
“He tenses more, my foot is doing well overall. Zero pain? It doesn’t exist especially at my age, but I can chain the days without these pains that wear mentally.
“I’m happy to be here, it’s a small success but already a real one. I will be able to answer this question better this summer, this is where I will really see where I am.”
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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