Wawrinka's coach: "He is still motivated to beat the best in the world"

Mónica Barberán Munera | 18 Feb 2025 | 14.00

Stan Wawrinka in Rotterdam 2025. Photo: Getty

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Stan Wawrinka is about to turn 40 next month, but the Swiss still has that hunger to keep competing. Not even injuries have been able to stop the former world number 3 who feels better this 2025 than last year. However, this improvement has not yet been reflected in the results, as he maintains a negative balance of 5 matches lost and only one victory. Nevertheless, his coach for over 12 years, Magnus Norman, still believes in his great motivation and desire to compete.

The former world number 2 from Sweden has been guiding Wawrinka since 2013, knowing that age and injuries will be the only things that hold him back. "He loves tennis, it's his passion. He loves getting out on the court and training, and you can feel it," Magnus said on the podcast The Sit-Down. Stan remains as motivated as ever despite his discouraging start to the season. One very positive aspect was the set he was able to snatch from Daniil Medvedev in the Rotterdam tournament. We could see a great version of the Swiss player, showcasing glimpses of his prime and delighting the audience with the elegance of his one-handed backhand.

Magnus doesn't believe his protégé has a chance to add a fourth Grand Slam to his trophy cabinet, but he does expect him to remain competitive against the world's best. He still has enough motivation to chase one more title, for sure. "Even this morning we were on the court for an hour and a half and I still enjoy it as much as the first years, and so does he. So that's the love for the game, for sure. And then I think he feels that he's still competitive and still has that motivation to beat some of the best players in the world if he has a good day. Maybe he won't win a Grand Slam because you have to win seven matches in 14 days, which is tough, but to feel competitive and stay in tennis for as long as possible. He would like, I don't know, to win a tournament or achieve a good result, ending the last chapter in a good way," he said.

Injuries, His Greatest Enemy

The constant knee and foot injuries, with the latest mishap being an ankle sprain in Metz in 2023, slowed him down more than necessary last year. However, according to the Swedish coach, he feels much better this 2025: "Throughout the last year, he was trying to recover a bit. Coming back from the knee injury, working so hard, his career was in danger during the knee surgery and during this time he returned to the top 50 in the rankings. And after that happened, it was mentally very tough. But now I feel he's back. The last weeks of the last season, he was in very good shape again. I think he was better prepared before 2025 than before 2024. So we'll see."

And the truth is, almost no one wants to face the Swiss player in the early rounds of tournaments because they still recognize his experience and fighting spirit. A spirit that thrives every day on the courts. "Over the years, it's been great being on the court with Stan because he always wants to try to improve. He thinks a lot in the long term. It's not just about next week, but about the process, about finding a way to win in the long run. There have been ups and downs, the last two years have been a bit tough, but we're still together. I think we have a great relationship and we're still very motivated to keep playing well. Even this year, he will soon turn 40, but he's very motivated to keep playing well," concluded the coach confirming his future alongside Wawrinka.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El entrenador de Wawrinka: "Todavía está motivado para ganar a los mejores del mundo"