Stan Wawrinka insists that Novak Djokovic is “the big favourite” to win the French Open but the Swiss is more than happy with his own situation as he continues the defence of his crown.
Having won his third title of the year at the Geneva Open last weekend, Wawrinka will be seeking his seventh win in a row when he takes on France’s Jeremy Chardy in the third round here this afternoon.
“I feel great,” Wawrinka said. “There were a lot of positives for me in winning Geneva. I take a lot of confidence from that week. I normally don’t like to play in the week before a Grand Slam but it was important for me to try to do it. Switzerland is my home.”
Wawrinka was taken to five sets by Lukas Rosol in the first round here and sometimes struggled against Taro Daniel in the second but the world No4 stressed: “There is no easy way to get to the second week at a Grand Slam. You have to take it match by match.
“If you look at my first two matches, for sure I’m not playing my best tennis but I know I have my best tennis in me. I have been practising well. I am hitting the ball well. I know it can come.”
He added: “Every match is difficult. I almost lost in the first round. But I’m still here and I know I can play well here.”
As a French speaker Wawrinka was a popular champion when he beat Djokovic in last year’s final but he knows the crowd will be behind their own man today.
Chardy, the world No32, lost all four of their previous meetings and has never gone beyond the fourth round at Roland Garros but Wawrinka insisted: “He’s a dangerous player. He has a big serve, hits heavy strokes from the baseline and is always trying to use his forehand. He’s playing at home. He loves playing here and I will have to play better.”
Roland Garros French Open Tennis 2016 - In pictures
Wawrinka sees both Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as more likely champions than himself. “Novak is the big favourite and is going to be really difficult to beat,” he said. “He’s still playing some amazing tennis if you look at what he has done this year already and since last year’s final here.”
The 31-year-old Swiss said he had never watched a complete video of last year’s final. “I watched some highlights,” he said. “There are always some good memories to take but I’m not going to take anything from it for this year. That was one year ago. This is a completely different story.”
