After emerging as a force to reckon with in the 2013 season, Swiss tennis star Stanislas Wawrinka says he feels mentally stronger and can challenge the very best on the big stage.
Wawrinka, set to compete in the Chennai Open later this month, was labelled as a player, who lacked mental strength after consistently faltering against top players in big matches.
However, he changed that perception about him this season during which he recorded nine victories against top-10 players, including two against Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.
It was a remarkable performance compared to 2012 when he managed just two wins against top-10 players and did not reach a single final.
With one title and three finals, he ended 2013 at a career-best singles rank of eight in the world and also reached a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time in his career at the US Open.
"I've been discussing a lot with my coach Magnus Norman this year. This year my confidence grew and I played well in big matches and performed very well against top 10 opponents. It all comes step by step and in New York and London I showed that I can do well against the very best on a big stage," Wawrinka told PTI in an interview.
"The semifinal in New York, what a big success and I'm happy that I made my first appearance in a Grand Slam semifinal," the Swiss added.
Wawrinka stretched world number one Serb Novak Djokovic in the that semifinal, which he lost after being up by two sets. He said it was a struggle to overcome that defeat but it did only good to him.
"Of course you are disappointed after losing such matches, especially during the first few days after the match. But then you need to discuss the match with your coach, analyse it and see the positive stuff behind it. Those defeats make you stronger mentally and give you extra motivation to keep fighting, working hard and try again," he said.
