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Match Report
Wawrinka wins Basel thriller, Rublev marches into career-best 13th QF
Wild card to face Shelton, Rublev awaits winner at ATP 500
October 23, 2024
Swiss Indoors Basel
Stan Wawrinka advances to the second round on his 17th appearance in Basel.
By Jerome Coombe
Stan Wawrinka found a fitting time to register his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head win over Adrian Mannarino on Wednesday at the Swiss Indoors Basel.
To the delight of the home crowd, Wawrinka held his nerve to seal a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory and become the oldest match-winner in tournament history. After reaching his first semi-final since July 2023 in Stockholm last week, the 39-year-old was able to maintain his strong indoor form to fend off Mannarino, the No. 57 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
“I always lost close matches [against Mannarino], but this was the first one I played at home, so I think it’s thanks to you [the crowd] that I won today,” said Wawrinka, who had lost each of their previous three meetings. “Today I was able to be more patient with myself and stay aggressive when I needed to be. These difficult wins in the opening rounds are the ones that make me the most happy.
“It’s a pleasure to come to Basel each year, it’s one of the reasons why I aim to keep going, so I want to thank the tournament for the invitation, for the chance to play in the main draw.”
STAN AND DELIVER ✨🇨🇭
To the delight of his home crowd, @stanwawrinka defeats Mannarino for the first time 6-3 3-6 7-5 and sets up a fascinating second round clash against Shelton! #SwissIndoorsBasel pic.twitter.com/z5tmJXMFCN
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 23, 2024
The Swiss wild card, who is making his 17th appearance in Basel, will next face sixth seed Ben Shelton on Thursday for a spot in the quarter-finals.
“I expect a very tough match, he’s young, he plays very well,” added Wawrinka, who improved to a 16-15 record in Basel. “It’s going to be tough to implement my game, with the intensity that he brings, but I am going to try and battle like always.”
Wawrinka’s serving has been pivotal to his recent run of form. It was particularly potent throughout his contest with Mannarino, during which he won 86 per cent (44/51) of points behind his first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
It appeared as if the momentum was shifting in favour of the Frenchman in the early stages of the deciding set, but Wawrinka mustered some gutsy tennis to save a break point in the opening game. Buoyed by the crowd, Wawrinka seized the moment in the 12th game to seal his maiden victory over Mannarino at the fourth time of asking in two hours, one minute.
World No. 7 Andrey Rublev secured his spot in a career-best 13th quarter-final of the season after seeing off the threat of explosive lefty Alejandro Tabilo. The top seed advanced with a dominant 7-6(3), 6-1 victory in one hour, 13 minutes.
After a tight first set largely dominated by the server, Rublev clicked into gear on return throughout the second, during which he won 86 per cent (5/6) of points behind Tabilo’s second serve, and converted each of the two break points he created.
Rublev’s run to the last eight will be welcome in his bid to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for a fifth time. The 27-year-old is currently eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, 315 points ahead of ninth-placed Alex de Minaur, who is in action in Vienna on Thursday.