Win a grand slam title once in this era and it could be lucky. Win twice? That is not luck. So few have the scraps been left behind by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic over the last decade in terms of majors, that any view on Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka’s haul of two major titles each has to account for the era they played in.
Two in this decade should count for a few more in any other era.
Wawrinka, especially, has had an outstanding 2015, the only man other than Djokovic to win a major, the only man to beat Djokovic at a major and the only man other than Djokovic to reach the last eight or further at every major.
As he prepares for 2016 as the fourth-ranked player in the world — the second consecutive year he has ended there — he has attained a level of consistency that he has previously lacked.
“I think I have got consistency this year,” he said in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships (MWTC). “Finishing second year in a row No 4 in the world with one grand slam, a few tournament wins.
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“I was quite happy with this year. The biggest challenge is to play your best tennis every tournament and so far only Novak has done it, more or less.”
Though it is a skewed statistic, it is one that might cause a few double-takes: over the last two years, he has won more grand slams than Federer, Nadal and Murray combined.
Wawrinka is self-effacing enough to play down such stats and to recognise them for what they are worth. But there is no value on the realisation that he can now beat the best players in the biggest tournaments.
“For me my goal this year is to try to stay there, try to win tournaments, try to play the best I can. The good thing is I know I can win big tournaments. I know I can beat the top guys and hopefully I can do it again a few times this year.”
He is also acutely aware of the worth of each major title, and how difficult it is to win one, let alone another.
“Yes I know I won two grand slams in two years and it’s still something incredible for me and not normal,” he said. “So it’s tough for me to put a goal to win a grand slam knowing how difficult it is.
“I know the challenge is big that’s why it’s not my goal, it’s too far away to put that as a goal. The goal [for 2016] is to give me a chance to be at my best during a grand slam and then I know I can beat the top guys.”
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His pairing with coach Magnus Norman has been instrumental in his rise; both his titles have come under Norman’s watch. A former player of considerable distinction himself, Norman was once ranked as high as No 2 in the world. He was a losing finalist at Roland Garros as well, in 2000.
“Magnus is a great guy and he used to be an amazing tennis player,” Wawrinka said. “For me it’s been great so far what we are achieving together, he’s helping me out with many good things.
“He’s a positive coach, he’s always calm, he knows also that results don’t have to come straight away. They take time, he knows the little differences you need to make, need to find what is good for your game.”
Wawrinka will play his first match at the MWTC on Friday, against the winner of Thursday’s match between Milos Raonic and Kevin Anderson.
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