Stan Wawrinka is fighting for the semi-finals at the Swiss Indoors on Friday. The task is difficult, but not impossible.
Legend:
Will he also delight the Basel audience on Friday?
Stan Wawrinka.
Marc Schumacher/freshfocus
The ATP tournament in Basel and Stan Wawrinka: It wasn’t really a love story over the last 15 years. The final chapters have not yet been written, a happy ending is still possible, and the 37-year-old Romand is well on the way to it.
Wawrinka’s coup in the first round against world number 3 Casper Ruud triggered a wave of euphoria at the Rheinknie. The electrifying atmosphere in the St. Jakobshalle helped “Stan the Man” regain momentum in the duel with the very agile Brandon Nakashima (USA/ATP 44) on Thursday and still win the match after 2:12 hours .
Wawrinka will definitely not lack the support of the audience on Friday in the quarterfinals against Roberto Bautista Agut. But the great support alone will hardly do it for the Swiss against the Spanish world number 22. These are Wawrinka’s keys to success against Bautista Agut:
- Lots of good first serves
The game against Nakashima showed well how important service is for Wawrinka, especially on crucial points. When the first serve didn’t come at the end of the second set, the Swiss promptly conceded two breaks in a row against the American. Wawrinka’s quarterfinal opponent Bautista Agut is not known for giving many gifts. Accordingly, it will be important for the Vaud native to regularly earn “free points” through the surcharge.
- Fast legs that are as fresh as possible
The three-set win against Nakashima cost Wawrinka a few grains. There is little time to relax. Accordingly, the question arises as to how fresh the Swiss will appear on Friday for the quarter-finals. One thing is clear: If Wawrinka wants to survive against Bautista Agut, he will have to run a lot and fast, especially in the return games. The 34-year-old Spaniard knows how to distribute the ball well without making many mistakes.
- Increasing self-confidence
We’ve seen plenty of times in the past how Wawrinka can crank things up once he gets into a “flow” and starts to really feel the ball. The two victories in Basel against the top 3 player Ruud and the up-and-coming Nakashima should have boosted the Swiss’s self-confidence. A good start to the duel with Bautista Agut would give Wawrinka additional security.
