Stanislas Wawrinka has always been living in the shadow of his good friend Roger Federer in Swiss tennis, with the latter being the number one player from this European country for so many years. However, starting Monday, January 27, Wawrinka can actually say that he’s the new Swiss number one.
Wawrinka won his maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open 2014 on Sunday after the then-eighth ranked pro defeated top-ranked and heavy tournament favorite Rafael Nadal in a four-set final. The win has propelled his ranking from number eight to a career-high world number three. Meanwhile, Federer, though he had managed to defend the semifinal points from this event, will be relegated to world number eight.
Nadal still stays as number one, adding more ranking points by virtue of reaching the final. The Mallorcan had no points to defend in Melbourne since he was not able to compete last year. Novak Djokovic remains as world number two but with reduced ranking points after failing to defend the title for the fourth consecutive year and crashed out to a thrilling five-set quarterfinal against Wawrinka. Juan Martin Del Potro, despite making an early exit at the Australian Open, will rise to a career-equalling world number four.
