Magnus Norman has managed to transform his career from being one of the world’s top players to becoming one of the sport’s most respected coaches on the tour.
The 43-year-old Swede achieved a series of accolades throughout his career, including reaching a ranking high of two in the world and reaching the final of the 2000 French Open. Overall, he won 12 ATP titles before retiring from competitive tennis in 2003. Over the following years, his focus then switched to mentoring players. Although it is one collaboration he is best known for.
Norman has been working alongside Stan Wawrinka since 2013. Together they have achieved a series of milestones that include a trio of major trophies over the same amount of years. An achievement that has only been matched by Andy Murray during the era of the Big Three. A group consisting of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
“When we started working together, the goal was never to win a Slam, but to get him his best tennis and to obtain the necessary confidence to be able to contain his emotions.” Norman said during an interview with La Tercera.
“Thus, every second week of the big tournaments, it would come with chances of doing something important. He is a tennis player who plays at the time of the best in history, Rafa, Roger, Novak, Andy, and has always been one step behind them.”
Known as somebody who thrives on playing on the biggest courts of the sport, Wawrinka’s previous success in the grand slams is down to one thing according to his coach. That is his mental toughness.
“He is very strong on his head. He gets his best version in important matches and does not wrinkle.” Norman explained.
“He has spectacular hits, but he has won so much thanks to his head. I who played a major final at Roland Garros against Gustavo Kuerten in 2000, I can say that the nerves I felt were many. But Stan is good at it. An expert in handling the pressure. “
34-year-old Wawrinka is currently ranked 16th in the world. Making him the seventh oldest player in the top 100 as of this week. The Swiss player has been hindered by issues with his knees in recent years, but is now back to full fitness. Highlighted by his run to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open last month.
The question is can Wawrinka add to his grand slam tally before he retires from the sport? Not only does he have the Big Three to contend with, he has those bidding to one day fill in their shoes. Dominic Thiem is now a three-time grand slam finalist, Alexander Zverev achieved his best result in a major earlier this year and Stefanos Tsitsipas is the reigning ATP Finals champion.
“Being healthy, strengthening your confidence and fighting the top (players) was what we have always proposed. In recent years he has not played much against them, so he misses them and is hungry to face them (again).”
If it wasn’t for the likes of Federer and Co, Wawrinka’s career could have been somewhat different. Playing in the shadows of countryman Federer, Norman still believes he has a place in tennis history. So far in his career, he has won 16 ATP titles and peaked at a ranking high of third in the world.
“He has been a strong competitor in the best time this sport has had.” Said Norman. “He has the same Slams as Murray, but Andy has been very consistent, he was number one, top 5 for a long time and has had a better career than him. After the Big 3 and Murray, Stan is the biggest.”
Wawrinka will return to action next week at the Mexican Open in Acapulco.
