The Swiss thinks matches are the key to his revivalStan Wawrinka has accepted a wild card into next week’s Nature Valley International at Eastbourne. The Swiss, still trying to find his form after undergoing double surgery to his left knee last season, owns a 5-8 record on the season and lost in the second round at Queen’s Club on Wednesday to Sam Querrey.
📣 Exciting news!Former World No.3 @stanwawrinka has accepted a wild card into the #NatureValleyInternational in Eastbourne 👉 https://t.co/vO2413oxxU pic.twitter.com/fhe96GI98R
— British Tennis (@BritishTennis) June 21, 2018
Wawrinka says he is feeling good about his form, and simply needs more matches now.
“All I know is that I personally feel really good with the way I'm practicing, the way I'm moving and the way I'm playing my game,” he said after Wednesday’s 7-5, 6-7, 6-1 loss to the American. “Now all I need is to keep playing match like today, like two days ago, also, try to win little by little, get the confidence back, get used to play all those important points, feeling the right way mentally on the court, knowing that when you play a match like that, if you play ten matches like that, then you think less and you know exactly what you're going to do at 5-5, you know what you're going to do in the tiebreak, and that's how you start winning again.”
According to Wawrinka, his knee is as good as it can be, but he admits that he may never be the same in that regard.
“After Paris I did two strong week of practice physical, a little bit of tennis but mostly physical,” the 33-year-old said. “And when I arrive here, I'm feeling great.”
He added: “For sure, there is there that is not the same and there is few things on the court that is not the same and maybe will never be the same. But I believe that I'm strong enough now to play my best tennis. Is it going to be enough? We don't know.”