US OPEN

August 29, 2022

Stan Wawrinka

Press Conference

C. MOUTET/S. Wawrinka

6-4, 7-6, [Ret.]

THE MODERATOR: Tough day. Could you just give us your thoughts.

STAN WAWRINKA: Yes. Tough day. Yeah, tough two sets for me. I wasn't playing the way I wanted. I was struggling a bit, and had to stop the match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. This is a time when some of the best players of the era, major winners, are thinking about the stage of the career they are in and retirement. What are the considerations that you have observed with the other players? What are your thoughts for yourself about the near future and the distant future?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, of course if I talk about myself, I'm getting closer to the end. That's for sure. I was injured for more than a year. It took me a while to feel much better physically and tennis-wise. I still love the game and want to compete a bit longer before stopping.

For me as much as I enjoy and love what I'm doing, I want to keep going a little bit for sure. Will need to have some result too, because you cannot just keep being on tour and losing.

But I see that I'm playing and feeling better. Even if I'm not winning yet, I know I will be back winning matches soon. That's for sure.

Yeah, I know that I'm closer to the end. That's for sure. It's a reality. I will never be able to play as well as I did in my career, because I'm getting older, but I believe that I still have some good and big results in me, and that's why I keep gonna fight a little bit.

Q. In what ways has what Rafa has done this year been an inspiration for you, given injuries he's dealt with and the age he's at?

STAN WAWRINKA: No, I think what Rafa has done this year and all his career, like it's amazing to watch as a tennis fan. You cannot take anything as a player, because he's in different league, always been and always will be.

It's always amazing to watch him play, to watch him compete, and to watch him at the top of the game after so many years. I enjoy watching him. But as I say, as a player, you cannot take anything.

Q. Your countryman Roger is talking about trying to come back too. What are your thoughts about what he's trying to do?

STAN WAWRINKA: Yeah, it's been too long without him on the tour, so I hope he will come back soon. Of course we all miss him, as again, the fans, the tournaments, the players, we all want to see him be back playing, and hopefully he will soon.

Q. You have had such an extraordinary career, but in terms of the sport of tennis, if you could change one thing in the sport, what would that be?

STAN WAWRINKA: Right now I don't know that's not the question I'm asking myself. Again, I think the tennis is in the right spot. Fans love it, and they enjoy what they are seeing. I think there is many amazing events, including New York, one of the best, and you will see the next two weeks with the amount of fans coming here.