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Wawrinka beats fever in time for Wimbledon

Caroline Bishop
Caroline Bishop - [email protected]
Wawrinka beats fever in time for Wimbledon
Wawrinka reached the semi-finals at Queen's last week. Photo: Glyn Kirk/AFP

After suffering from a fever this week, Swiss world number three tennis player Stan Wawrinka is back on the practice courts in readiness for Wimbledon, which starts on Monday.

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The Australian Open champion was struck down by a fever earlier this week, forcing him to cancel an exhibition match in Zurich and forgo training for two days.

Yesterday the tennis ace tweeted: “Thanks for all your kind messages! I’m glad that today I’m feeling a bit better and hope to be ready on time for Wimbledon!”

His coach Magnus Norman confirmed the star’s return to the practice courts in London on Twitter, saying “So nice to be back on the practisecourt [sic] after a couple of days with sickness #lovemyjob”

Wawrinka was today placed in the bottom half of the draw for grass court championship Wimbledon, along with fellow Swiss and seven-times champion Roger Federer and Spanish world number one Rafael Nadal.

Defending champion Andy Murray, seeded three, and number one seed Novak Djokovic find themselves in the top half.

The draw means a potential all-Swiss quarter-final – if Wawrinka gets that far.

The 29-year-old from Lausanne has never made an impact at Wimbledon, with his best performances being in 2008 and 2009 when he reached the fourth round.

Last year he lost in the first round to former champion Leyton Hewitt.

But the Swiss, who is seeded fifth below the big four, reached the semi-finals of the pre-Wimbledon grass court Aegon Championship at Queen’s Club in London last week.

It’s been a tumultuous year for Wawrinka. After beating Nadal to win his first Grand Slam championship in Melbourne in January, he went on to lose in the first round of the French Open at Roland Garros.

After that shock defeat, he told reporters: "I need to put the puzzle back together, but differently than in the past, because now, after winning a grand slam, being No.3 in the world, everything is different, and I still didn't find all the pieces."

In April he defeated Davis Cup teammate Federer for only the second time in 15 meetings to win the Monte Carlo Masters.

As for Federer, despite a fourth-round loss in Paris, the champion is feeling confident about his chances of claiming an 18th Grand Slam title in London.

Speaking to reporters after the defeat, Federer said: “When I’m healthy, like I have been now for the last six to nine months, clearly I can also decide the outcome of the matches more than I could last year. So I’m very excited about my chances for Wimbledon.”

If Federer can win his eighth Wimbledon title he will surpass the current record held by American Pete Sampras.

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