Stanislas Wawrinka, who won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, says he deserved the crown after his final-round win over Rafael Nadal, who was contending with a back injury. The Swiss will move up to a career-high No. 3 ranking when they are released on Monday.
“To win a Slam, to be No. 3, both for me is a big surprise,” he said. “But I think more to win a Slam. Because in the ranking you can be No. 3 without winning a Slam. But now it's both happening, so it's a big surprise. It's amazing feeling. I saw Roger [Federer] winning so many Grand Slams in the past, so now it's my turn to win one. If you look the 10 past years, except [Juan Martin] Del Potro, it's only the top four guys who was winning all the Grand Slams. So, I will need time to realize what I did in these two weeks. Because at the end, even if Rafa was injury, I think I deserve that Grand Slam because I won against Djokovic, No. 2; I won against Rafa. I did amazing two weeks, and I was playing my best tennis ever.”