Wawrinka eyes better season

The Swiss ace, shocked by Italian qualifier Flavio Cipolla in the opening round of last year’s Chennai Open, was sent packing in the first round by David Guez of France in the Paris ATP World Tour Masters.

He did manage to grab a title in Lugano in Switzerland, but by and large it was a forgettable year for the 24-year-old.

“I have been very inconsistent of late and I am very disappointed. I need to do much better than this to break into top 15,” said Wawrinka, who takes on India’s Rohan Bopanna in the first round of the Chennai Open on Tuesday.

The Lausanne-born player hoped the new season will turn out to be a good one for him. “I’m feeling better and playing well. Last year I lost here in the first round, but I hope I can move further this year. I prepared well in the off-season, played a few practice matches and worked on a few grey areas. After Chennai, I am going to Sydney as a build-up to the Australian Open. Grand Slams are going to be my priority in the new season,” he remarked.

Wawrinka’s cabinet may not be brimming with trophies, but his doubles gold medal along with Roger Federer in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 swells his pride.