STAN WAWRINKA has fulfilled a number of career goals in the past 18 months, with two grand slam titles and Switzerland's first ever Davis Cup title lifting him onto another level altogether.

 

But as the likeable Swiss prepares to begin his Wimbledon title challenge, it was another challenge of a very different kind that was giving the 30-year-old a few sleepless nights.

Next month, Wawrinka will be appearing in his birthday suit in ESPN Magazine's Body edition, the annual gathering of a variety of sporting bodies all as God intended, with a bit of discretion thrown in.

Wawrinka might not be the first name that springs to mind for a nude photo shoot, a fact he readily admitted as he sat down to discuss his French Open victory and his hopes for Wimbledon.

But the man who threatens to upstage the so-called big four said it had been a challenge he wanted to do, even if it was a nerve-wracking day and even if he joked he should have "gone on a diet for six months'.

"It was a strange experience," he said, of a shoot that does not even come with a pay cheque. "It took me months to say yes. At first it was no, no, no. It's normally not something I do. I'm not the type of guy who wants to be a show off and be naked in pictures.

"But after thinking about it and talking with many people for a few months, I said: 'Maybe it's a good opportunity to do something different'.

"It's a good picture. They really try to put the body in front and [make it] something nice about sport. I thought it was a good experience. But it was quite strange, the first 10 minutes with the photographer and the team [covering his modesty]. I was like, 'Are you sure?'

"It was good for me, a personal challenge, to try something completely different, something extreme."

This might be the first time that Wawrinka has shown off his body but he has already shown the world how great a player he can be with a last 18 months that only Novak Djokovic could perhaps better.

Having won the Australian Open in 2014, Wawrinka joined Roger Federer for Davis Cup glory last November and then, against the odds, upended the all-conquering Djokovic to win the French Open.

If there were some who said his Melbourne victory had been slightly devalued by a back injury to Rafa Nadal, no one could doubt the validity and impressive nature of his win in Paris.

"For me the French Open was bigger, not only because of that story or what people were thinking, but because it was the second one, because it was the French Open, because after winning the first one, the second I really enjoyed more.

His win over Djokovic was notable for the manner of his performance, pushing the Serb back with the sheer power of his groundstrokes, especially his one-handed backhand, which has become arguably the best shot in the men's game.

"You can still say that [Djokovic] had to play the day before because he had a long semi-final, so you can always find something," he said, laughing.

"But it's more about how I see myself, I'm proud of that for sure. Entering the final, I was seeing Novak winning everything, he didn't lose a match on clay, big favourite.

"I still thought, play your game, he doesn't like your style, he doesn't like the way you play your game, you're the only player who can really push him back, who can really make him feel uncomfortable with his game and that's what happened in the final.

Grand-slam titles usually have the sponsors knocking on the door but Wawrinka is not your average superstar.

Growing up, his parents ran a farm that helped people with learning difficulties, something that kept him grounded, even when big money is being thrown at him.

"I am me," he said. "I still think I have nothing to promote. I'm not going to fake, I'm not going to change for sponsors. I'm just like that. I'm happy with the people around me. I don't need to play a game.

"At the end of the day, when you play tennis matches you need to be yourself. If you start to play around too much and to be someone different, you cannot play 100 per cent your best tennis."

Wawrinka is seeded fourth for Wimbledon and is in the same half as Djokovic. "The good thing is that when I start to play well in a tournament, to be in the quarters or semis, I have never, so far, played badly.

"I can lose, of course. But I have the confidence to know that when I start to win a few matches, I will do well."

And the famous check shorts that he wore to victory in Paris? They're retired. "Probably," he said, with a smile.