Match Report
Wawrinka rolls again years with Stockholm win; Rublev marches on
Dimitrov, Kecmanovic advance at ATP 250
October 17, 2024
BNPPNORDICOPEN
Stan Wawrinka advances to his 112th tour-level quarter-final in Stockholm.
By Jerome Coombe
Stan Wawrinka produced a classic efficiency Thursday on the BNP Paribas Nordic Open to turn out to be the oldest quarter-finalist in Stockholm match historical past.
The 39-year-old dug deep to prevail 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 towards Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and report back-to-back tour-level wins for the primary time since reaching the third spherical of the 2023 US Open. Wawrinka twice trailed by a break within the deciding set, however discovered some gutsy tennis to advance in two hours, 12 minutes.
“I’m tremendous glad to get by means of this match, it was a tricky opponent as we speak, however the degree was good and it was nice to win two matches right here,” stated Wawrinka. “It’s an incredible environment, a full home. Thanks everyone for making a lot noise.”
STAN THE MAN 👏
An important week continues for @stanwawrinka as he rallies previous Davidovich Fokina 6-4 3-6 7-5 to succeed in his 112th tour-level quarter-final!@EuroTennisOpen | #EuropeanOpen pic.twitter.com/qy9mFjAXt0
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 17, 2024
Wawrinka, the previous No. 3 within the PIF ATP Rankings, capitalised on a lacklustre seventh recreation from the Spaniard earlier than closing out the primary set with ease. Davidovich Fokina then raised his degree in a near-flawless second set, throughout which he gained 89 per cent (16/18) of factors behind his first serve, based on Infosys ATP Stats.
Nevertheless, the 25-year-old was unable to shut out the match in a deciding set stuffed with momentum shifts. Wawrinka finally took benefit of an premature double fault from his opponent to arrange the only real match level wanted.
Wawrinka will face high seed Andrey Rublev, who obtained underway with an emphatic 6-4, 6-1 win over Alexandre Muller. Rublev didn’t blink all through the competition, throughout which he struck 17 winners and saved all three of the break factors he confronted.
Rublev is at the moment eighth within the PIF ATP Stay Race To Turin, main ninth-placed Alex de Minaur by simply 275 factors in what is popping out to be an absorbing battle for qualification for the Nitto ATP Finals.
Earlier, Miomir Kecmanovic held his nerve in an exciting contest with Nicolas Jarry that went right down to the wire. The Serbian clinched the hard-fought contest 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(2).
Third seed Grigor Dimitrov closed the day with a 7-6(1), 6-3 victory towards Quentin Halys to report his 18th match win — most amongst energetic gamers — on the ATP 250. The Bulgarian, who gained his first tour-level title in Stockholm in 2013, will meet Swiss Dominic Stricker within the quarter-finals.
Dimitrov, at the moment tenth within the PIF ATP Stay Race To Turin, is aiming to make a late-season push and qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the primary time since he gained the season finale in 2017.