KEY POINTS

  • Stan Wawrinka retired from first round at U.S. Open 2022
  • Wawrinka won the competition in 2016
  • Rafael Nadal has already won 2 Grand Slams this year

Stan Wawrinka has heaped praise on Rafael Nadal, saying the former World No. 1 "is in a different league."

The 36-year-old Nadal, who has struggled with various injuries in recent times, has had a memorable year so far, having won two Grand Slam trophies and overall four ATP titles.

Nadal, who is gearing up for his first U.S. Open in two years, now has a chance to not only win the title, but also walk away from New York being crowned as the World No. 1.

"No, I think what Rafa has done this year and all his career, like it's amazing to watch as a tennis fan. You cannot take anything as a player, because he's in [a] different league, always been and always will be," Wawrinka, who had defeated Nadal at the Australian Open final in 2014, told reporters Monday.

Switzerland's Wawrinka had a tough outing at Flushing Meadows in his opening-round match against Corentin Moutet. The former was down 6-4, 7-6(7) before he retired from the contest on Court 5.

"It's always amazing to watch him [Nadal] play, to watch him compete, and to watch him at the top of the game after so many years. I enjoy watching him. But as I say, as a player, you cannot take anything," added 2016 U.S. Open champion Wawrinka.

Spain's Rafael Nadal will chase a fifth US Open crown -- in a draw without Novak Djokovic -- but there are concerns about his fitness

Nadal has won the U.S. Open four times in his career, with the last victory coming in 2019. Going into this year's tournament, the Spaniard has a five-way battle for the World No. 1 rank, with the incumbent holder Daniil Medvedev and three other tennis stars Stefanos Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz, and Casper Ruud against him. However, Tsitsipas is out of the race following his first-round exit.

The Spanish tennis star's first round in the U.S. Open is on Tuesday against Australia's 21-year-old Rinky Hijikata, who has entered the hard-court tournament through wild card.

Meanwhile, Nadal has a brilliant chance to extend his Grand Slams lead as his arch-rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic aren't participating in the final major event of the year. While Federer is still recovering from his knee surgeries, Djokovic has pulled out of the tournament because he is still unvaccinated.

Nadal has won 22 Grand Slam titles, one more than Djokovic and two more than Federer. The Swiss Master is expected to return to action next month at Laver Cup, where the "Big Three" are set to team up for Team Europe.