US Open champion Stan Wawrinka has admitted that he is unlikely to commit to playing in the Davis Cup in 2017.
The thirty-one year old, speaking to the media in Geneva said: “My full calendar is not decided yet, but to be honest I don’t think that I will play Davis Cup. It will be very difficult to do it,”. Wawrinka will start his 2017 campaign in Brisbane, as he attempts to prepare an assault for a second Australian Open crown.
The news comes as a blow to Swiss Davis Cup captain Severin Luthi, who is unlikely to be able to count on the services of Roger Federer either. The Swiss maestro is returning to action this week in the International Premier Tennis League, but is likely to tailor his schedule next year after an injury-hit 2016 campaign.
Switzerland won the Davis Cup in 2014, with a team anchored by Wawrinka and Federer, though they will struggle for depth if the two Grand Slam champions opt out.
Switzerland start their Davis Cup campaign against the United States. Their singles players will thus likely be Henri Laaksonen and Marco Chiudinelli. Both are currently ranked outside the ATP Top 100.
