Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka, 28, said that he did not expect a Grand Slam win. The Swiss beat world number one Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3 in the final in Melbourne on Sunday.
Wawrinka is the first man apart from Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray to win a major Grand Slam since Juan Martin Del Potro in 2009 and Marat Safin at the 2005 Australian Open. He said that he never won a Grand Slam because he believed that he was not good enough to beat them.
Wawrinka who was earlier ranked 8th in the world rankings has now jumped to a career-high position at No 3. He also overtook 17-time major winner Roger Federer for the first time and became No 1 Swiss player. Roger Federer also called Wawrinka and congratulated him on his achievement.
Winning a Slam and being number three were both a big surprise for him. But winning a Slam is even more since ranking can be number three even without winning it.
Wawrinka recalled his friendship with Federer saying that he is an amazing friend and he always wanted the best for him. Roger was also always texting him even before and after he lost in a match like the US Open.
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