Stan Wawrinka believes Rafael Nadal’s serve is very underrated

Stan Wawrinka has been one of the few players able to defeat Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic several times in recent years.

Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic have played 25 times with Wawrinka trailing 6–19; however the two have contested numerous close matches and therefore it is considered a highly competitive rivalry since 2013. Stan and his compatriot Roger Federer have played each other 26 times with Wawrinka trailing 3–23. Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal have played 20 times with Wawrinka trailing 3–17 against the Spaniard.

The Swiss explained that Nadal’s serve is very underrated and he finds it difficult to return those serves. “I have difficulties to return the ball well because of the spin he hits and the lefty serve. He doesn’t have the best service, but he makes it difficult for me and always puts me directly under pressure. On clay, it’s impossible. Forget it,” Wawrinka said in a live chat with Chris Evert.

“Novak is the one in the Big Three that I like to play the most, even if I’ve lost to him many times. I play the best against him and have been lucky to peak against him in Grand Slams. I feel like I can keep my power with him for three, four, or five hours. Those three times I beat him, I kept playing my game,” he added.

“But even after beating Rafa or Novak, they’re still way better than me. They’re still in a different category than me. I beat them one time here or there, but I know it’s a different league,” the three-time Grand Slam champion concluded.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2YcQMGx