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Agence France-Presse

Stan Wawrinka has admitted he was upset long-time coach Magnus Norman decided to end their relationship as he battled back from knee surgery.
Norman called it quits on his four-year spell with the Swiss star in October after a partnership that brought three grand slam titles.
The Swede wanted to spend more time with his family, but it did not go down well with Wawrinka, who confirmed on Saturday he will play the Australian Open next week.

“No, for sure, it was already a tough, tough, tough moment for myself, to be out, to get surgery, to know that it will take at least six months to be back at a place where I can play tennis again,” said Wawrinka, who has not played competitively since Wimbledon in July.
“It was tough to hear from him that he will stop at that moment.
“When you are in a tough place like that as an athlete, you want the people who know you the best to stay around you, to stick with you. You want your team, your family to be here.
“They will help you the most




to get back where you want to be.”
He said Norman was not only his coach, “but he was a friend, even closer than a friend” and he was “more sad than angry at him”.
Did the Australian Open get a whole lot harder for Roger Federer? Swiss master drawn in the same half as Novak Djokovic
Wawrinka is still without a full-time coach, although he continues to work with Yannick Fattebert who plans to spend more time on the road with the 32-year-old.
Despite no longer being coached by Norman, Wawrinka said he would always be grateful for the time they spent together.
“That’s what I want to keep from our relationship,” said Wawrinka, who was the world number 17 and had never reached a grand slam semi-final before the pair hooked up.

Wawrinka pulled out of an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi late last month, casting doubt on whether he would be ready for the opening grand slam of the season.
He admitted it had been a race against time, but said he was confident enough to take the court next week against first-round opponent Ricardas Berankis.
Rafael Nadal says injured knee is ‘fine’ despite defeat in Australian Open warm-up
“For me, I think the fact that I’m here and I’m going to play the first one, it’s a big victory,” he said after a week of intense practice in Melbourne against Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and others.
“It’s the best that I could have dreamed when I had the surgery – to be here sitting in front of you and to say, ‘OK, I’m going to play the first match’.
“That’s something really good from my side, especially from the knee.”

The 2014 Melbourne champion, who has dropped down the rankings to be seeded nine at the season-opening grand slam of the season, said the injury “is getting way better”, but there was still pain.
“It depends on the way I’m moving, what I’m doing. But it’s normal,” he said, adding that he was in regular touch with his doctor in Switzerland.
“I still have a lot of work to do physically and also tennis-wise to be at my top level. I’m going to take the time I need for that.
“I know I need to start somewhere. I think here was a good start, to get pushed, to see also mentally how I’m going to react, how I’m going to feel when I’m going to be playing matches.”
After surgery in August, Wawrinka, 32, said he spent eight weeks on crutches, with the injury also taking a mental toll.
A final decision to compete was only made Saturday in welcome news for tournament organisers, with five-times runner-up Andy Murray and Japan’s Kei Nishikori already ruled out with injuries.


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Sad Stan: Wawrinka opens up on coach Magnus Norman’s exit and confirms Australian Open fitness

Stan Wawrinka in action during a practice session for the Australian Open. Photo: EPA

Tennis - Wimbledon - London, Britain - July 3, 2017 Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka reacts after losing his first round match against Russia's Daniil Medvedev REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge

This handout photo released and taken on January 9, 2018 by Tennis Australia shows Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during a practise session ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament, at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne. / AFP PHOTO / TENNIS AUSTRALIA / Elizabeth BAI / --- EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / TENNIS AUSTRALIA / ELIZABETH BAI " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - NO ARCHIVES

Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka answers a question during a press conference at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Did the Australian Open get a whole lot harder for Roger Federer? Swiss master drawn in the same half as Novak Djokovic

Switzerland’s Roger Federer is seeking to retain his Australian Open title in Melbourne. Photo: EPA

epa06428087 Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action against Dominic Thiem of Austria during match two of the Kooyong Classic tennis tournament at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 10 January 2018. EPA-EFE/JULIAN SMITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

epa06430590 Roger Federer of Switzerland during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 11 January 2018. The Australian Open starts on 15 January. EPA-EFE/LUIS ENRIQUE ASCUI AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Russia's Maria Sharapova hits a return during a tennis training session ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 11, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL CROCK / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE

Romania's Simona Halep hits a return during a tennis training session ahead of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 11, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL CROCK / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE

Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a forehand return during his "Tie Break Tens" tennis tournament match against Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in Melbourne on January 10, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / WILLIAM WEST / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

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Tennis

The former champion says he will play at opening grand slam of the season after knee issues, but reveals frustrations over end of coaching partnership


Sad Stan: Wawrinka opens up on coach Magnus Norman’s exit and confirms Australian Open fitness

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The former champion says he will play at opening grand slam of the season after knee issues, but reveals frustrations over end of coaching partnership

The former champion says he will play at opening grand slam of the season after knee issues, but reveals frustrations over end of coaching partnership