Stan Wawrinka hopes to ‘not get killed’ by Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon
Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Garden Tennis and Croquet Membership, London, Britain – July 6, 2023 Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka in motion throughout his second spherical match towards Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge
Stan Wawrinka arrange a Wimbledon third-round conflict with seven-time champion Novak Djokovic on Thursday, hoping to “not get killed” by a rival he first confronted 17 years in the past.
The 38-year-old Wawrinka, who has received three Grand Slam titles, made the final 32 by seeing off Argentina’s twenty ninth seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
It is going to be his first time within the third spherical on the All England Membership since 2015, when he went on to make the quarter-finals.
Wawrinka, now ranked at 88 after a prolonged battle with accidents, has solely overwhelmed Djokovic six occasions in 26 conferences.
Nevertheless, they’ve by no means met on grass.
“I’ll get pleasure from it if I don’t get killed,” stated Wawrinka. “Novak is a tremendous champion. I’m completely satisfied to get the prospect to play him on grass earlier than I end my profession.
“It is going to be an enormous problem and I should play at a excessive stage.”
Two of Wawrinka’s wins over Djokovic got here in Grand Slam finals — on the 2015 French Open and 2016 US Open.
The Swiss additionally beat the 23-time main winner within the last-eight of the 2014 Australian Open on his approach to his maiden Slam triumph.
“He took away two Grand Slams from me. That’s the function he performed, beating me in two Grand Slam finals,” joked Djokovic after reserving his place within the third spherical on Wednesday.
“No, I like Stan quite a bit. He’s an excellent particular person. Actually all the time inspirational what he’s doing at his age. He’s nearly 40 years outdated and he nonetheless retains going sturdy. That’s one thing that not many individuals can do.”
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