Stan Wawrinka celebrates his first win after two foot surgeries last year. The three-time Grand Slam winner won the first round of the ATP 1000 in Rome after a tough 3:6, 7:5, 6:2 battle against American Reilly Opelka (ATP 17).
The 2.11-meter giant, who has fired nearly 2,900 aces in his career so far, put the Vaud native under pressure from the start, and the 24-year-old managed to break the decisive break when it was 4:3. Also in the second set , Opelka puts his mark on the movement, leading 4:2. Then Stan the Man rises to another defeat. And how. Wawrinka manages to re-break it to 4:4, now makes life difficult for the world’s 17th seed and gets the second round with 7:5.
In the decisive set, Opelka seems completely off the mark, taking a lot of risks at inopportune moments. The Swiss passes his service matches without any major problems and moves to the second round. “I’m very happy to be here and happy with my first win. I know I’m getting better every day. But I’m not where I want to be yet,” the Lausanne native said after the match.
Plain Bencic
Belinda Bencic in the second round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome. The 12th seed in eastern Switzerland won her first duel against Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciareto (WTA 159), who holds a wild card, in 86 minutes 6:4, 6:2.
In the next round, the Olympic champion will meet Czech Teresa Martinkova (WTA-53) or American Amanda Anisimova (WTA-32).
Golubek loses again to Azarenka
Meanwhile, Viktorija Golubic (29, WTA 56) is going through a real crisis. Like a week ago in Madrid, the Zurich woman lost to former world number one Victoria Asarenka (32, WTA 16) in two sets at the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome, this time 3:6, 0:6 in 69 minutes Just.
On Monday afternoon, Belinda Bencic, the top-ranked Swiss, will take part in the Italian capital. She meets local champion Elisabetta Cocciaretto (21, WTA 159). On Tuesday, Jill Teichmann (24), who made the top 30 for the first time after reaching the semi-finals in Madrid, will feature. The woman from Bale also plays against an Italian with Yasmine Paolini (26, WTA 55). (Che/SDA)
Wawrinka wildcard at the Geneva Open
The field of participants in the Geneva Open is witnessing further significant growth. Three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka will compete next week at the ATP 250 Championship in Geneva on a wildcard. After two foot operations last year, the 37-year-old has slipped from Fu to 361st in the world rankings.
Wawrinka has fond memories of the tournament that took place at home in Geneva. In 2017, he won his 16th title to date in the ATP Tour here. But the competition at the Parc des Eaux-Vives will be fierce. Among the top ten players are Daniil Medvedev and Kasper Rudd as well as three other players from the top 25 players on the board. (SDA)
The field of participants in the Geneva Open is witnessing further significant growth. Three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka will compete next week at the ATP 250 Championship in Geneva on a wildcard. After two foot operations last year, the 37-year-old has slipped from Fu to 361st in the world rankings.
Wawrinka has fond memories of the tournament that took place at home in Geneva. In 2017, he won his 16th title to date in the ATP Tour here. But the competition at the Parc des Eaux-Vives will be fierce. Among the top ten players are Daniil Medvedev and Kasper Rudd as well as three other players from the top 25 players on the board. (SDA)
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