Wawrinka revels in ´amazing´ year after Federer defeat

Swiss star Stan Wawrinka was in an upbeat mood despite his semi-final loss to countryman Roger Federer on Saturday, preferring to reflect on an “amazing” year on the ATP Tour.

Wawrinka’s season came to an end after going down 7-5 6-3 to Federer at the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

The world number four and French Open champion was no match for Federer in a rematch of the 2014 semi-finals at the O2 Arena.

Wawrinka, however, had no complaints afterwards as he revelled in his 2015 performances, which resulted in a 55-18 win-loss record and a career-high four titles, including a second grand slam crown at Roland Garros.

“The year is amazing again. I didn’t expect to play that well, to be here tonight, honestly, being number four, winning one Grand Slam, semi-final again. I couldn’t expect more,” the 30-year-old said.

“I won two titles for the first time in my career, one French Open title beating the number one player. Did two semi-final, US Open, Australian Open. Quarter-final [at] Wimbledon. I was quite consistent at the high level. I beat so many top guys.

“The year, it was amazing year for sure for me.”

Wawrinka started brightly against Federer, breaking first in the opening set.

That was until the 17-time grand slam champion hit back and went on a run of five straight games as he claimed the set and took control in the second stanza.

Wawrinka, though, did manage to save one match point when serving at 5-2 down but it only delayed the inevitable as Federer kept his quest for a seventh ATP World Tour Finals title alive.

“I never beat him on hard court, only on clay court. There is many reasons. In the past maybe few matches that I could have beat him, but I was maybe a little bit too nervous.

“In general, his game is tough for me, for my game. I will say he has the perfect game against my game. He’s mixing a lot, he’s serving well, he’s putting a lot of pressure, playing so fast.

“If you look today, it’s not that I play really bad. I’m not tough enough mentally with myself, I’m not completely there. But one, two point change the first set completely.

“I was break up. I did two mistakes going too quick on his forehand, passing, passing, the set is over.”