Tennis like many sports is often depicted in a light of all time champions and the other players in the sport are often forgotten when their careers are over. Yet for the more appreciative fan where would any sport be without all the other players to create such a high level of competition and excitement?
Source - Getty Images - Wawrinka Win's the US Open 2016
In the world of tennis many fans like other sports will likely follow the best of the best, be the so called "super fan" of that player. The problem is there are too many super fans or should I say glory fans to even feel a sense of curiosity as to why they would choose to support or admire such a player or team - ensuing conversations will be predictable and somewhat monotonous.
My choice of best tennis player of all time is not selected on an uninspiring criteria of following the masses, jumping on the bandwagon of joy of silverware but rather one of style and sheer conviction when this player is at the top of his game. I am of course talking about the lights out tennis played by the one and only Stan Wawrinka.
While there are many tennis greats of the past, I have to go with a player of the present and one who has been around in my generation and during my time of being interested in tennis. Wawrinka may not have the Grand Slam numbers of Federer (20), Nadal (18) or Djokovic (16) and all those illustrious past champions - Sampras, Agassi, Borg, Connors, McEnroe, Lendl, Laver etc etc but he has the best shot making I have ever seen when he's on top of his game and has won three memorable Grand Slams where he has destroyed his opponents in the final.
Just take a look at his best shots of all time to admire the way he can hit the ball:
Stan's Style
Of course this sort of tennis has a dramatic burn out element, it's not sustainable to the level of tennis played by the biggest champions in the sports history but when Stan has found his true rhythm at times, it's like nothing you will see from any other player.
Wawrinka's "lights out" tennis style has taken apart possibly the most stubborn of all tennis champions in recent history - Novak Djokovic in the final of a Grand Slam twice.
Super Powerful Backhand
Wawrinka has the most powerful backhand in the history of the game. While he doesn't bring out the big shot all the time, he has hit more hyper flat backhand winners than any other player in history. It's more powerful and flatter than Federer's and it's unstoppable when at 100%. So much so that even while he doesn't have the consistency and skill of Federer or others to be an all time champion, it's still seen him win the 2014 Australian Open, the 2015 French Open, and the 2016 US Open. One could argue if he had not suffered the knee injuries during 2017 he could have taken that form through to win a few more slams. His knee injuries almost ended his career and he has spent a lot of time recovering and building up his strength since having major surgery. I am still hopeful he has one last slam win left in him at the top of his game.
Watch: Wawrinka Best Backhands on ATP Tour
Stan's forehand is not too bad either, it's hit with such ease you wouldn't believe he's putting any energy into it. It's an incredibly piercing and "wristy" style shot, hit with a hint of top spin at times and more potent than Nadal's and Federer's when in full flight.
To back up his destructive forehand and backhand, he also has a great defensive slice shot and super hands at the net. He is one of a dieing breed of players given the lack of excitement and talent shown by the new generation thus far.
My Favourite Stan Slam
Out of the three slams Wawrinka has won, his last had to be my favourite. He destroyed Novak Djokovic in the final 3 sets to 1 where he tore through what seemed to be an unstoppable and unbreakable champion.
While Nadal had gone out early in the draw and Federer wasn't competing due to injury we have to look at Djokovic's form. That same year in the other hard court tournament - the Australian Open Djokovic had defeated Federer comfortably in the Semi Finals 3 sets to 1 (61 62 36 63) and Murray in the final in straight sets (61 75 76).
Djokovic had also claimed the French Open that year again beating Murray in the final. He was world number one and seemingly unstoppable at the US. Yet Wawrinka completely turned the tables on the Serb through sheer brute force playing tennis Djokovic had no answer for. Nadal or Federer could not have delivered that sort of performance to win in his dominant fashion against Djokovic playing his best tennis. 100% Stan beats 100% Djokovic, 100% Nadal but I would hesistate to say that about Federer as well whose style seems to neutralise Stan.
If we look at Federer and Nadal's capabilities in finals vs Djokovic...
Federer has only ever defeated Djokovic once in a Grand Slam final all the way back in 2007 when arguably Djokovic was just getting going. Head to head Djokovic has now won 4 Grand Slam finals vs Federer, to Federer's 1. Three of Djokovic' wins have all come on Federer's favourite surface - grass at Wimbledon. Yes Novak has defeated Federer three times at Wimbledon in the final with the other coming at the US Open.
Nadal and Djokovic are equal for number of times they have won head to head in Grand Slam finals (4-4). If we move to hard courts then Djokovic is 3-2 vs Nadal.
So for Wawrinka to have also won two Grand Slam finals vs Djokovic (one on a hard surface and one on clay) shows what a magical player he has shown us to be at times. I'll leave you with the best highlights of the slams vs Novak.
