Stan Wawrinka: No ATP Cup, confusion over Olympia
While Stan Wawrinka is currently ringing in the final phase of the current season at the ATP-500 tournament in Basel, the Swiss have already begun to think about the year 2020.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Oct 22, 2019, 11:29 pm
On the whole, Stan Wawrinka can look back on a very enjoyable 2019 tennis year. Although the 34-year-old was denied a title this season, in the Grand Slam tournaments in Paris and New York, the Swiss reached but each quarter-final, and thus moved back to 17th place in the ATP world ranking.
But Wawrinka wants to connect to even better times, after all, the Swiss has already won three Grand Slam tournaments in his career - only Wimbledon is still missing in his collection. In addition, "Stan the Man" won together with Roger Federer the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Whether this coup can be repeated twelve years later in Tokyo, is still in the stars. Like Federer, who had announced his start in the Japanese capital a few days ago , Wawrinka wants to attack at the upcoming Olympics - both would need for a wildcard of the organizers.
Davis Cup as a tip on the scales
"I would very much like to participate in the Olympic Games, but I do not know how the system works with the wild cards," said Wawrinka in Basel. "What I know is that I will not be playing Davis Cup in Peru." Switzerland will face South Americans in the World Group I play-offs on 6 and 7 March.
For Wawrinka, the Davis Cup could tip the scales when it comes to taking part in the Olympics: According to the ITF, all players must be in three squads during the four-year Olympic cycle, with one encounter falling in 2019 or 2020. Athletes who have already been nominated for 20 Davis Cup games must play at least two games, one in 2019 or 2020 - "Stanimal" does not meet these criteria.
Wawrinka has been a total of 25 times in the squad of Switzerland and would therefore have until the start of the Olympic Games since 2016 two encounters in the Davis Cup. However, the last appearance of the three-time Grand Slam winner dates from 2015 - a problem for the Olympics.
Federer instead of Wawrinka?
Only the 56 best players in the world ranking who meet the above criteria are allowed to play in Tokyo. In addition, the ITF awards eight wildcards, on seven of them, however, Wawrinka has no chance for various reasons.
Only chance for Stan: the wildcard for a not directly qualified player within the Top 300, who has won in his career a Grand Slam tournament or an Olympic gold medal in singles. However, this already seems to be reserved for compatriot Roger Federer.
However, the ITF could make an exception to both Federer and Wawrinka. It is decided case by case, possible reasons for such an exception are long injuries or the general involvement in the Davis Cup over the duration of the career - therefore, the chances of Wawrinka's use at the Olympics probably not too bad.
On the other hand, the Swiss will definitely be watching the ATP Cup - here, however, voluntarily: "I have a contract with the tournament in Doha for 2020." Thus, Roger Federer will compete with Henri Laaksonen. The two meet in Group C on Belgium and Great Britain.