New Delhi: Veteran Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka believes it is unfair to Any Murray and the rest of the ‘Big Four’ to be put in the same bracket as them as their achievement on the court is way more than his.
For over two decades, from 2003 to 2024, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray combined to win 69 Glam Slam titles, often dubbed as the ‘Fab Four’.
Djokovic leads the chart with 24 major titles, followed by Nadal’s 22 and Federer’s 24 while Murray won three during what is often regarded as the golden age of modern tennis.
Wawrinka also won three Slams during this period to be often tagged along with them into a club of ‘Big Five’. Wawinka also have an Olympic medal as his contemporaries but he loathes being compared to Murray.
“I got bothered when they called it ‘The Big Five’ or they put me close to Andy Murray. I’m miles away from what they achieved,” he told the Nothing Major podcast.
“I think it’s a little bit disrespectful to them, and especially to Andy. I achieved way more than I could have dreamed in my career but I’m so far away from what they’ve been doing.”
Stan the man still going strong
While Federer, Nadal and Murray has retired but Djokovic and Wawrinka are still playing on the ATP circuit. Murray has joined Djokovic’s coaching set-up and was part of the Serb’s entourage at the Australian Open where he retired midway in his semi-final against Alexander Zverev.
Wawrinka was beaten 4-6, 7-5, 5-7,5-7 by Lorenzo Sonego in the first round at Melbourne Park. At 39, Wawrinka has claimed 16 career singles titles, reaching a career-high three in the world rankings, Murray bagged 46 titles while rising to the top of the chart.
Wawrinka beat Murray in the French Open last year, which was the Brit’s last Grand Slam appearance. In head to head meetings, Murray finished ahead of Wawrinka 13 to 10, there are points of difference on their respective tennis CVs.
Both have always been respectful of each other on and off the tennis court.
Stan Wawrinka won three Grand Slam titles, similar to Andy Murray but loathes being compared to him, terming it disrespectful. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
