Sunday, January 12, 2014

Swiss Personality of the Year Stanislas Wawrinka

Stanislas Wawrinka started 2014 as if it was still 2013. He was voted Swiss Personality of the Year. Just one week after winning the tournament in Chennai, he was awarded the most prestigious award Switzerland gives away. Just having been nominated was an unexpected honor.



Being shortlisted for the Personality of the Year award (just called Swiss Award) in Switzerland is an achievement. The award is handed out in various categories: Culture, Economics, Politics, Show, Society, and Sports. Being nominated at all is an award in itself as each shortlist has only three names on it. Winning it overall is recognition for what he has done in Swiss tennis for so many years.

The Personality award is given by the television viewers in a phone and online vote. It will have played in his favor that he has represented Switzerland in Davis Cup games unstintingly and unfailingly without regards to his own plans for the season. In tennis, he is only the Swiss number two, but in this he has drawn level with Roger Federer.

Going into the Australian Open in Melbourne, he can take this along with his win in Chennai. His win there was first  class tennis over the whole duration of the tournament. Away from the spotlights concentrating on Doha, Brisbane, and Perth, he won the ATP tournament in India's Chennai in style. It looks like he intends to continue playing his best in the starting tennis season 2014.

Stanislas Wawrinka mayn't convey Roger Federer's glamour and style or have his international star appeal. If he is made to wear formal gear like a tuxedo, he appears like fish out of water. The fashion magazines of the world are not for him. Give him a tennis court anytime, though, and he is happy as a pig in mud. More than one great tennis nation would be glad to call him their number one tennis player, but Switzerland always has Roger Federer.

But the 28-year-old tennis world number eight has gained many fans in the past season. He has earned the nickname "Marathon Man" during epic duels against top players like Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray. While the last tick had been missing in 2013 to topple Novak Djokovic, who knows what 2014 will bring?

Playing well and losing was something Stanislas Wawrinka got used to in the past season. At the U.S. Open, he reached the semi-finals and failed to get past Novak Djokovic in five long sets. In Melbourne, he lost to Novak Djokovic after an incredible battle.

"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." Stanislas Wawrinka sports the tattoo on his forearm. He had the words of Irish author Samuel Beckett inked onto his skin in 2013. It is a fitting motto for the world number eight player.

And would you bet on a tournament win at the Australian Open in 2014? If you can spare a bit and believe in history repeating itself, then you might as well. When Roger Federer was voted Swiss Personality of the Year in 2004, he won the Australian Open immediately after that. That's worth a try, don't you think? Stranger things have happened.

Further reading
Giving up: The Key to Success
Jerzy Janowicz and Andy Murray
Tennis: Mr Darcis Says Nada







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