Wawrinka adds Krajicek as coach

World No.5 Stanislas Wawrinka has added former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek to his coaching team for the grasscourt season, the Swiss player said on Friday.

Big-serving Dutchman Krajicek, Wimbledon winner in 1996, will join Wawrinka at London’s Queen’s Club next week as the Swiss tunes up for this month’s grasscourt Grand Slam.

“As I’m always looking to improve on court, I would like to take this opportunity to announce as of immediately that I have added Richard Krajicek to my existing coaching staff to help during the grasscourt season for the next four weeks,” the 31-year-old said on his Facebook page.

“Adding a former Wimbledon champion can only further my knowledge and understanding of the grass. It’s a real privilege and honour to add such a champion to my corner.”

Krajicek will join Wawrinka’s existing coach Magnus Norman and assistant Yannick Fattebert.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka has never really shone at Wimbledon, losing to Richard Gasquet in the quarterfinals last year and Roger Federer at the same stage in 2014.

It is the only major tournament at which he is yet to reach the semifinals.

Wawrinka is the latest player to hire a former Grand Slam champion as a coach.

Canadian Milos Raonic, ranked No.9, recently announced he would work with triple Wimbledon winner John McEnroe during the grasscourt season.

Federer once worked with Swede Stefan Edberg while world No.1 Novak Djokovic has Boris Becker, another former Wimbledon great, in his camp.