World No 8 Stanislas Wawrinka will look to extend the good form he showed in 2013 by when he kickstarts the new season at the ATP Chennai Open today
A string of major semi-final appearances lifted him into the top 10 after starting the year ranked 17th.
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The star hopes a good performance in his sixth appearance in the $450,000-event in Chennai, which he won in 2011, will boost confidence ahead of the Australian Open.
“I feel good to be where I am,” Wawrinka said in an organisers’ media release. “2013 was definitely an outstanding year for me. It showed me how close I am to the top guys and that I have my chances against them.”
Wawrinka said his goal in the new year was to be as consistent as the top players like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.
“I’m confident going into 2014. “Top players are extremely tough to beat and you need to play your best tennis. However, if you work hard and keep fighting everything is possible,” he said.
Wawrinka faces a tough field in Chennai that includes World No 15 Mikhail Youzhny and No 16 Fabio Fognini.