Wawrinka: “There’s zero opportunity for me to win Wimbledon – but it’s an honour to play Djokovic again”

Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam Stan Wawrinka hasn’t won, but despite being back in the third round at the grand age of 38, he doesn’t expect to lift that trophy.

That’s even more the case now he faces 23-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.

“There’s zero opportunity to win Wimbledon for me, I think,” the Swiss said after beating Tomas Martin Etcheverry. “I’m happy to have won today again. I think it was great match. I’m playing better each match, and as I say, I think it’s an honour to play Novak here. I was missing that on my career to play him in the Grand Slam in Wimbledon. That’s the last [place] I never played him, and it’s going to be a difficult challenge.

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“Hopefully I can make a competitive match, but if you will look at recent results, I don’t really stand a chance.”

Their head-to-head certainly suggests that Djokovic is likely to win; the Serb currently leads 20-6. However, they are yet to play on grass.

“I think it’s great to play him at least one time here on grass. It’s going to be the first time [at] Wimbledon.

“Of course I’m excited, and I’m happy to have the chance to play against him after we played in every other Grand Slam, a lot of other tournaments. So it’s going to be first time on grass, and it’s great.”

Wawrinka: Novak is the perfect player

Roger Federer has eight Wimbledon titles, Djokovic seven – and Wawrinka added that he was not surprised at his success.

“Have you seen him play?” he smiled. “Give me one weakness. I think he’s been an amazing player to play. He’s the perfect player.

“If you look, everything is so clean. He play the perfect shot in the right moment. I love to watch him play, as much as I was loving to watch Roger play.

“Yeah, like the way he’s playing, like he’s serving amazing, he’s returning everything. He can do everything. I’m not surprised at all.”

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