Stan Wawrinka rolls back years with Stockholm win; Andrey Rublev leads | ATP Tour

Matching Report

Wawrinka rolls back years with Stockholm win; Rublev helps to celebrate

Dimitrov, Kecmanovic advance to ATP 250

October 17, 2024

Stan Wawrinka produced a classic performance on Thursday at the BNP Paribas Nordic Open to become the oldest quarter-finalist in the history of the Stockholm tournament.

The 39-year-old held on from deep to win 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and record back-to-back wins for the first time since reaching the third round of the 2023 US Open. . Wawrinka was twice trailed by a break in the deciding set, but found some good tennis to advance in two hours, 12 minutes.

“I’m very happy to go through this match, it was a tough opponent today, but the quality was good and it was nice to win two matches here,” said Wawrinka. “It’s an amazing atmosphere, a full house. Thanks to everyone for making so much noise.”

STAN THE MAN 👏

The good week continues @stanwawrinka as he beat Davidovich Fokina 6-4 3-6 7-5 to reach the quarter finals at the 112 level!@EuroTennisOpen | #Europe Open pic.twitter.com/qy9mFjAXt0

– ATP Tour (@atptour) October 17, 2024

Wawrinka, once ranked No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings, took advantage of a poor seventh game from the Spaniard before closing out the first set with ease. Davidovich Fokina then raised his level with a flawless second set, where he won 89 percent (16/18) of the points after his first serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

However, the 25-year-old was unable to close out the match in a decisive set full of shifts. Wawrinka eventually capitalized on his opponent’s double-fault to set up the necessary match point.

Wawrinka will face top seed Andrey Rublev, who started with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Alexandre Muller. Rublev didn’t blink throughout the tournament, where he hit 17 winners and saved three break points he faced.

Rublev is currently eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, leading ninth-ranked Alex de Minaur by just 275 points in what is shaping up to be a tough battle to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals.

Earlier, Miomir Kecmanovic held his nerve in a very exciting race with Nicolas Jarry to the finish line. The Serbian player won the much-anticipated tournament 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(2).

Third seed Grigor Dimitrov closed the day with a 7-6(1), 6-3 victory against Quentin Halys to record his 18th match victory – the most among active players – at the ATP 250. The Bulgarian, who won his first tour level. Title in Stockholm in 2013, he will meet Swiss Dominic Stricker in the quarter-finals.

Dimitrov, currently ranked 10th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, aims to make a late season push and qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time since winning the season finale in 2017.