Stan Wawrinka holds back trash talk, wins in straight sets at Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia – Stan Wawrinka might be feeling a little scratchy in the throat, but for the two-time Grand Slam champion, that’s just fine.
“If I can talk,” Wawrinka told Jim Courier on court. “I talk too much (expletive), so it’s better I couldn’t.”
Wawrinka, winner here in 2014, got a resounding laugh and applause for that one from the Australian Open crowd on hand inside Rod Laver Arena after he blasted past Lukas Rosol in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6(3).
Next up for sure-talking Stan? Big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic.
Courier had asked the Swiss man why he had sounded a bit under the weather, and the No. 4 seed said yes, he hadn’t been feeling 100 percent, but that he wasn’t too worried about it.
“I don’t need my voice to play tennis,” Wawrinka said, smiling.
He added: “Now I can talk, but the last few days I couldn’t really. I’ve been OK… maybe a few too many cigars? I had a little bit of a cold. But I am feeling better and am moving well… that’s the most important.”
Wawrinka stopped Novak Djokovic last year in the French Open final, adding to his surprise win from here in 2014. He’s due to meet No. 2 seed Andy Murray in the semifinals should their seeds hold.
Wawrinka owns a 4-0 head-to-head record against Raonic, though they’ve never met at a Grand Slam.