MELBOURNE // Stan Wawrinka delights in the fact that his favourite nickname – “Stanimal” – was given to him by Roger Federer, who he also says is the greatest player to have picked up a tennis racket.
Together the Swiss duo teamed up to win an Olympic doubles gold medal at Beijing in 2008 and the country’s only Davis Cup triumph six years later.
On Thursday, however, their friendship will take a back seat when they walk out for an Australian Open semi-final that promises to be one of the highlights of the season-opening grand slam.
It will be the 22nd time the pair have met and Federer, back after six months out and favourite to capture his fifth Australian Open crown, has won 18 of the head-to-head meetings. He has also looked to be back to his best in beating 10th seed Tomas Berdych, fifth seed Kei Nishikori and then thrashing Mischa Zverev, who had upended world No 1 Andy Murray, in the quarter-finals.
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■ Day 10: Nadal to meet Dimitrov in semis, Lucic-Baroni's 'crazy' run continues
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While Wawrinka, 31, has won just three of their clashes, Federer places no such stock in that statistic. All that matters is how his opponent pitches up in their next match.
Federer, the 17-time grand slam winner, knows how much his compatriot has progressed since their first meeting indoors in Rotterdam in 2005.
Back then Wawrinka, he said, struggled with the faster surfaces. “His footwork was not there. You could tell from the other side of the net that he did not enjoy playing on grass or hard courts.”
So the younger Swiss did what anyone would do. He sought advice and Federer became a counsellor of sorts.
Gradually, as the calls became less frequent, Federer realised that Wawrinka had “got it”.
“What I like with Stan is if I would tell him something, I felt like he was able to do it,” Federer said. “That showed me that he’s a great player, that he’s got a mind of somebody who understands what I’m trying to explain to him.”
Federer, 35, said the mentoring had stopped well before Wawrinka won his first grand slam title at the Australian Open in 2014, although the fact he did it at Melbourne Park was a surprise given his early struggles on hard courts.
“If I would have called any grand slam for him to win it was always going to be the French, because he moved so effortless on clay,” Federer said. “That’s his base. That’s his DNA really.”
“I think he’s done incredibly well on all the other surfaces, including grass actually, also indoors, hard and fast.
“He’s become such a good player, I super respect that, that the guy is able to transform his game around like that, in his footwork, in his mind, also in his game plan. That’s his transformation, and I like what I saw.”
Wawrinka’s transformation now includes two more grand slam titles, including last year’s US Open. While he typically has a downbeat approach to his matches, the world No 4 is confident he has the game to beat Federer.
“I’m more confident with myself. When I step on the court, doesn’t matter who I play, I know what I have to do if I want to win,” said Wawrinka, who was taken to five sets by Martin Klizan in the first round but has improved with each ensuing match.
“Against Roger, it’s always special because he’s so good. He’s the best player of all time. He has answers for everything.
“But I managed to beat him in a grand slam, so we’ll see.”
* Reuters
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Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
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Winner: AF Tathoor, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 1,000m
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6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: Aiz Alawda, Fernando Jara, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: ES Nahawand, Fernando Jara, Mohammed Daggash
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Al Ain Mile Group 3 (PA) Dh350,000 1,600m
Winner: Somoud, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Al Jazi, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
