Stan Wawrinka had been repeating for several weeks that he felt it was there, not so far, very close, even; he felt that what he produced in training would eventually translate into the game. We gladly took his word for it, but with deeds, it’s even better. Thursday evening, in the Arènes de Metz well stocked and dazzled by the show, the former world n°3, who fell to 284th place this week, unbolted the seeded n°1 of the Moselle Open, Daniil Medvedev (6- 4, 6-7, 6-3 in 2h20).
There is the victory against the world No. 4, of course, but above all there is the way. Wawrinka could have concluded in two sets since he led 6 points to 5 in the tie-break of the second set, crossing his backhand too much. But he did even better then, not letting go of his line or the score in Act III. Beyond his one-handed backhand, punching like in his finest hours, he added a science of the game that clearly embarrassed Medvedev. He read the Russian better than the reverse, and even if the one who was still world No. 1 three weeks ago was able to count in particular on his first serve to stay afloat, he never appeared in the comfortable on the court.
In the third set, Wawrinka missed two balls for 4-0 then Medvedev came back to 3-3, but it was said that the best player on the ground, this Thursday evening, would win. It is therefore logical that the Swiss went to get the last game, on his service, with another string of winning shots which made the public happy.
“The main reason why I continue is precisely to experience matches like this”
“I hesitated a bit on a few shots in the tie-break, and against a defender like Daniil, it’s something you can’t afford.recognized Wawrinka at the microphone on the court, after his best performance in two years. But in the end, I played really well and I’m very happy with the level. I’m pretty old now (37 ans) and the main reason why I continue is precisely to experience matches like this. I’m super happy and hope for more. »
Already confident, before this tournament, of the prospect of having a good 2023 season, Wawrinka nevertheless intends to stay in the present, which will offer him a quarter-final against Sweden’s Mikael Ymer (100th) on Friday: “I have suffered a lot for two years, it has been difficult to get back on track, tennis and physically, so the most important thing now is, each time, to leave everything on the field. »
