Stan Wawrinka says it's disrespectful to Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic & Andy Murray if he's bracketed along with them

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka appeared on the latest episode of ‘Nothing Major Podcast,’ on Sunday, January 26. During the episode, the Swiss was asked about being compared with the ‘Big 4’ and whether the exclusion from that group bothered him.

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are collectively called the 'Big 4' of men's tennis in popular parlance.

Wawrinka, however, said it 'bothered' him when he was compared to the aforementioned players.

“No, it's the opposite I think. I got bothered when they call it like the big five or things like that or they put me close to Andy Murray just because he won three Grand Slams and I have three Grand Slams. But he has like 45 Master 1000s and he's been on the top 10 for 20 years and top five the same. So for me I'm completely away from them. I'm miles away from what they achieved and I think it's a little bit disrespectful for them and especially for Andy, because that's the talk that came more often,” he said. [22:30 onwards]

While expressing his contentment with what he achieved during his career, Wawrinka praised the ‘Big 4’ for their accomplishments and credited Murray for his well-deserved place in that category.

The ‘Big 4’ have 313 ATP titles among them, including 69 Grand Slams and an additional 8 Olympic medals (6 gold). From Federer's first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2003 to Novak Djokovic's last title at the US Open in 2023, there had been only 11 instances where players not belonging to the 'Big 4' were able to clinch a Major.

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Stan Wawrinka’s head-to-head record against the ‘Big 4’

Stan Wawrinka at the 2025 Australian Open - Source: Getty

Stan Wawrinka, the former World No. 3, has a decent head-to-head record against the 'Big 4'. Known for his resilience, the Swiss has consistently risen to the occasion in big matchups, often delivering his best performances on the grandest stages.

Against his compatriot Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka has three wins out of 26 matches.

In his rivalry with Rafael Nadal, Wawrinka trails 3-19 in the overall head-to-head, but one of those wins was at a Major. His first-ever Grand Slam title came against Rafael Nadal, in the final of the 2014 Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic has a 21–6 head-to-head record against Wawrinka, but the Swiss has won two Grand Slam titles by defeating Djokovic in the final. His victories came at the 2015 French Open and 2016 US Open, showcasing his ability to outplay one of the greatest players of all time when it matters most.

Against Andy Murray, Wawrinka trails in the overall head-to-head 10-13, the closest gap among the four. Wawrinka’s ability to perform in Grand Slam matches against the Brit has been a defining feature of their rivalry, as he holds a 5-3 record in the Majors.

Despite not having the best head-to-head record against the Big 4, Stan Wawrinka is the only player to have won three Grand Slams during the Federer-Nadal-Murray-Djokovic era.