SPORTS
Outside of eight-time champion Roger Federer, twice winner Rafael Nadal and defending champion Novak Djokovic, Wawrinka is the only other multiple Grand Slam champion in the draw.
Stan Wawrinka was barely mentioned in the Wimbledon build-up with all the focus on the men's 'big three' and the young guns hoping to shake things up but the Swiss means business.
Outside of eight-time champion Roger Federer, twice winner Rafael Nadal and defending champion Novak Djokovic, Wawrinka is the only other multiple Grand Slam champion in the draw.
Only one other player, Marin Cilic, has won a Grand Slam so with Wawrinka's obvious weapons - a beefy serve, sublime backhand and a big match mentality - the Swiss should at least be part of the conversation when it comes to discussing contenders to make a deep run this fortnight.
His record at the All England Club, where the title would complete his career Slam, suggests otherwise, although the 34-year old looked razor sharp as he belted 26 winners past Belgian qualifier Ruben Bemelmans in a 6-3 6-2 6-2 first round cruise.
Admittedly left-hander Bemelmans, ranked 171, was having a decidedly ordinary day with his forehand misfiring completely but it was a powerful statement by Wawrinka nonetheless.
"I think I did a great preparation. I'm happy the way I've been practising so far here, I've been playing. Really happy the way I've been feeling physically," he told reporters.
"Today was a great match, a great start. Three sets, so it's good to start like that."
A year ago Wawrinka arrived at Wimbledon ranked outside the top 200 having had knee surgery after the 2017 Championships.
On that occasion he beat Grigor Dimitrov in the opening round but then lost to qualifier Tomas Fabbiano.
Surprisingly for a player of his class Wawrinka has only reached two quarter-finals at Wimbledon, in 2014 when he lost to Roger Federer and in 2015 when beaten by Richard Gasquet.
It is his worst Grand Slam, with his win over Bemelmans improving his career record here to 20-14, compared to 42-14 at Roland Garros, 40-12 at the U.S. Open and 38-13 in Australia.
Despite that record Wawrinka said he believes he can be a match for anyone on the surface.
"I've had some tough years here by losing first or second round. I had two good years by making quarter-finals, but I do believe that this year I'm playing well," he said.
Wawrinka, who has not gone past the second round at Wimbledon since 2015, faces a sterner challenge next when he takes on giant American Reilly Opelka.
"I'm playing the best I ever played on grass courts. For sure I have a tough next match. But I believe if I enter the court, I can beat anybody."
DNA TV Show: Mumbai Police receives threat message seeking Rs 5 crore from Salman Khan
Shraddha Kapoor breaks silence over credit battle for Stree 2's success: 'I believe it was...'
Who is IAS Sanjeev Hans, arrested by ED in money laundering case?
Gautam Adani donates Rs 1000000000 to THIS Indian state for...
Mukesh Ambani's Jio Financial Services' profit rises by 3%, company earns Rs 6890000000 in...
Virat Kohli completes 9000 Test runs - Is he the fastest Indian to achieve this feat?
Karwa Chauth 2024: Check muhurat, moonrise timing in Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Patna other cities here
Salman Khan to import bulletproof SUV from Dubai after threats from gangster Lawrence Bishnoi
Apple's HR head resigns in less than 2 years marking another high-level departure under Tim Cook
60 guards and no one can leave the sets before it is over: How Salman Khan shoots for Bigg Boss 18
Karan Johar, Akshay Kumar join hands for a film inspired by…
Suresh Mansharmani - The Father of OKR is transforming SMEs of India
Meet world's 10 most beautiful women, including an Indian, not Aishwarya Rai, Alia Bhatt
Apple iPhone 16 under Rs 70000? THIS company is offering flat Rs 10000 discount, check details
Meet Bollywood actress who graduated from Harvard, wrote children’s books, did nude scenes in…
IND vs NZ, 1st Test: Virat Kohli falls on final ball of Day 3, India trail New Zealand by 125 runs
Pro Kabaddi League 2024 Live Streaming: When and where to watch PKL season 11 live on TV and online
Karwa Chauth 2024 Sargi timing: What you must include in your sargi thali?
SAT stays Rs 250000000 Sebi fine on Anil Ambani with one condition, asks him to...
Man was crossing railway track with phone glued to his face, watch video to know what happened next
Pioneering Business Intelligence at Cisco: The Visionary Leadership of Sagar Shukla
AAP leader Satyendar Jain walks out of jail, says, 'We will continue...'
Driving Innovation: Aravind Reddy Nayani's breakthrough in electric vehicle technology
From legacy systems to advanced analytics: The evolution of Devidas Kanchetti
Who is IPS Bhagyashree Navtake, Maharashtra cadre officer booked by CBI in Rs 1200 crore scam probe?
Meet IIT-JEE topper with 339 marks in JEE Advanced, went to IIT Bombay with AIR 1, now working as...
Virat Kohli's decision to not celebrate Rachin Ravindra's wicket sparks debate, know what happened
Watch: Radhika Merchant stuns in Rohit Bal lehenga at friend's wedding, dances to 'Sajna Ve Sajna'
PAK vs ENG: Pakistan beat England by 152 runs, register 1st Test win at home after 1348 days
Excel in finance and SAP integration-mastering an extraordinary journey of Dignesh Khatri
Revolutionizing Ad Technology: Arth Dave’s Leadership in Machine Learning-Driven Ad Recommendations
Redefining In-Store Shopping Experience: Krishnateja Shiva's impact on retail innovation
Vijay Bhaskar Kamireddy: Revolutionising machine learning with innovation and expertise
PM Modi to visit Russia next week to attend BRICS Summit in Kazan
Good news for Indian travellers as THIS country is now offering visa-on-arrival, check details
IPL 2025: 3 reasons why RCB might go in bidding war for New Zealand batter Rachin Ravindra
Key skills for successful web development career
6 important things to keep in mind before taking loan
Good news for Sadhguru as SC dismisses plea against Isha Foundation
Mukesh Ambani’s dream comes true as Reliance Jio beats Airtel, BSNL in...
Kunal Kamra reignites debate with Bhavish Aggarwal, says, 'Ola Electric hasn’t...'
IPL 2025: All teams possible retention list ahead of mega auction, CSK, RCB, MI will retain…
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar dead: List of top figures who may replace him
Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos have new 'job', they now work for...
Ex-India captain's clip goes viral amid India's batting disaster, fan says, 'he is trolling BCCI'
Meet people who will execute Ratan Tata's will, not Noel Tata, Jimmy Tata, they are...
US charges former RAW official for plotting to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun
Byju's Raveendran finally BREAKS SILENCE on his rumoured move to Dubai amid legal tussle
What are Nita Ambani's lavish daily habits and how much does she spend in a day?
A company accidentally hired a North Korean cyber criminal and then…
Karisma Kapoor reveals this actress on Hum Saath Saath Hain set would sit alone, eat only…
Ratan Tata's neighbours share stories of everyday encounters with him, say he was...
Viral video: Internet can't stop gushing over this little girl's breathtaking dance, WATCH
THIS Gautam Adani company's shares are in spotlight as it raises Rs 42000000000 in...
Delhi-NCR's air quality turns 'poor', AQI reaches...
India-Canada row: ‘No action on request to arrest Lawrence Bishnoi gang members’, says MEA
Cyclone Alert: Odisha coast likely to face cyclone next week, IMD issues alert