Djokovic and Wawrinka Set to Face Off on Grass: A Highly-Anticipated Wimbledon Matchup

The Grand Slam record holder (23 laurels) from Serbia has a match score of 20:6 with his Swiss opponent. They last played on clay in Rome last year. But they never played a duel on grass. Now they will finally check off this rest.

“I’m happy to have the chance to play against him here at least once. It’s a big challenge, but I hope to get to a higher level and be competitive. I’ll push to the maximum and see what happens,” said Wawrinka, who for the first time from the 2020 French Open, he advanced to the third round at the Grand Slam.

His head-to-head battles with Djokovic never reached the rivalry between the Serbian champion and Wawrinka’s compatriot Roger Federer. Nevertheless, Stan the Man thwarted Nole’s title plans several times: in the memorable five-set quarter-final of the 2014 Australian Open, in the final of the 2015 French Open, where he even made his opponent cry, and also a year later in the final of the US Open.

“Stan took two Grand Slam titles from me… I have a lot of respect for him. It’s inspiring what he’s still capable of after injuries and surgeries,” Djokovic nodded. If not for Wawrinka, his Grand Slam collection could have been even more massive.

I can’t forget the 2015 French Open final when Djokovic lost to Wawrinka and for two days it felt like someone had died in my family. Only thing satisfying that day was the 2 min 30 sec standing ovation for him. Watch it. This could be the best 2 min 30 sec you will spend… pic.twitter.com/9HWAwr9lKD

— Imran Salahuddin (@itisimrankhan) July 6, 2023

“I’m going to enjoy it, if I don’t get killed,” Wawrinka said with a smile about the upcoming fight. Seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic has only lost twice on Grand Slam grass since 2014 – retiring once due to injury (in the second set of the 2017 quarterfinals against Tomas Berdych). .

Wawrinka is currently ranked 88th in the world and is extending his career after prolonged knee problems. Even against an opponent 15 years younger, the seeded Argentinian Tomás Etcheverry, he demonstrated his masterful backhand against which there is no defense to an excited audience.

However, Djokovic clearly reigns supreme on grass, while Wawrinka has only advanced to the top eight at the All England Club twice (2014, 2015). “I think the chance of winning Wimbledon is zero for me. If you look at the recent results, I don’t really have a chance,” said the Swiss. But the fans believe that Friday’s Wimbledon night will be worth it thanks to him.