NEW DELHI: Stan Wawrinka expressed his enduring passion for tennis after defeating British wildcard Charles Broom in straight sets in his Wimbledon opener.
The 39-year-old Swiss, a three-time Grand Slam champion and the oldest man in the draw, hit 38 winners in his 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 victory on No. 2 Court, reported AFP.
Despite currently ranking 95th in the world and having limited success on the ATP Tour this year, Wawrinka emphasized that the pressure of the sport continues to drive him forward in the later stages of his career.
"I love playing tennis," he said. "I love having the chance to play in the biggest tournaments in the world.
"Of course, I haven't had the best results this year. But as much as I enjoy what I'm doing, I think there is enough reason to keep playing.
"I don't want to go home. Playing tennis was a dream when I was young. Being a professional athlete was a dream. Now I'm there, there's no way I'm going to just stop because I am bored of it.
"I love what I'm doing. I'm passionate about the sport. I want to keep pushing myself as much as I can and see where I can go."
Stan Wawrinka, a two-time former Wimbledon quarter-finalist, is set to face fellow veteran Gael Monfils in the second round of the tournament.
Monfils, aged 37, will provide another challenging matchup for Wawrinka in this stage of the competition.
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