The late-October end to one of the most fruitful coaching partnerships of recent seasons has added an intriguing new element to forecasts for 2018: how will Stan Wawrinka fare without the cool, stable, thorough, reassuring and super-professional presence of Magnus Norman?
When the Wawrinka-Norman collaboration started in April, 2013, the long-time Swiss No.2 was ranked 17th, and had never reached the semifinals of a major. The thunderous ball-striker with that majestic one-handed backhand was also suspect temperamentally and emotionally, his commitment questionable, his self-belief often lacking. At that stage, a grand talent unfulfilled.
By the time Norman departed, citing personal reasons, while his charge was rehabilitating from August knee surgery, Wawrinka had won three singles majors: the 2014 Australian Open, 2015 French and 2016 US. The 32-year-old had spent much of 2014-2017 entrenched in the top four, while developing a handsome - if still occasionally spotty on the consistency front - reputation as a big-occasion guy who plays his best at an event’s pointy end.
“Most of the time I know when I start to win the matches in the tournament, I start to get the confidence, the good feeling with the ball, with the way I'm playing in the tournament. I know I play better and better,’’ Wawrinka said earlier this year. “Normally semifinal, final, I always play some good match. Doesn't mean I always win, but I know that I'm going to play some good tennis.’’
And now? What will happen after the departure of the man many rate as the world’s best coach?
First, the Wawrinka knee. The chronic problems he had carried through the last part of 2016 and were still troublesome en route to a classic five-set semi against Roger Federer at Melbourne Park in January flared more seriously during a winless grasscourt swing. A date with the surgeon’s knife followed; practice not resuming until a ‘happy and excited’ Stanimal resurfaced on a Twitter video on November 7.
By then, Norman was his EX-coach, the respected/understated Swede prioritising his two young children over a professional relationship that had returned a 12-5 finals record - including three out of four Slams, with this year’s Roland Garros loss to a rampant Rafa Nadal the exception - and a close personal bond.
What Norman described as “one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make”, was a surprise to many, despite Wawrinka having added American Paul Annacone to his team in a grass-court consulting role mid-year.
Immediately after that was when the curtain was drawn; an injury-compromised loss to Daniil Medvedev at the All England Club leaving Wawrinka with a 27-11 record in a half-season highlighted by that final in Paris and another at Indian Wells (a surprisingly rare occurrence at Masters 1000 level, it must be said), plus the Geneva crown on clay and the semi at Melbourne Park.
There was no chance of a US Open defence, though, and Wawrinka remains one Wimbledon short of becoming just the ninth man in history to complete a career slam. He is also left in the familiar - although far from unique - position behind Rafa and Roger in the pecking order, and wondering how to combat both.
“With them, you hesitate,’’ he said after a 6-2 6-3 6-1 finals beating in Paris. “Even though I have a game plan, even though I know what I have to do, there is always some hesitation in your mind.
“And if you miss a ball, if you hit a ball short, they will attack you. Against these big players, this is the most difficult thing to control. When you play against them, you have to go for your shots and you shouldn't think too much.’’
A better idea, perhaps, is to remember that he has beaten both of the rejuvenated Big Two on big stages, including Nadal in the Australian Open final three years ago. The architect of Plan Stan may have moved onto new projects, but Norman leaves behind far stronger foundations than he found. “Magnus made me a winner,’’ Wawrinka was fond of saying. Knee health and new-coach considerations permitting, he may yet be one again.