The last event of the ATP calendar before the final culmination of the season in the form of the Tournament of Champions, which will be hosted by Turin, Italy, gave fans of the white sport the opportunity to reminisce about the best years of the Swiss champion.
In the first round, Wawrinka swept the Spaniard Zapata 6:0, 6:2 in just 52 minutes, and he confirmed his form in the second round against the 19-year-old Frenchman. After winning the first set, the second set reached a tiebreak, in which the 38-year-old Swiss earned two match points at 6:4.
But then came an extremely unlucky moment for the Swiss legend. She was only fifteen minutes away from winning number 569 on the ATP circuit. However, the one-handed backhand master misstepped after a cross and sprained his right ankle.
Wawrinka rolls his ankle while up two match points in the second set tie-break ????
Had to retire after losing the set.
Get well soon, Stan ???? pic.twitter.com/xzeTk9P3hk
— Olly ???????????? (@Olly_Tennis_) November 8, 2023
Although he continued in the game with considerable limitations, he did not succeed in any of the next three exchanges and had to scratch the game after losing the second act.
Van Assche, the 70th man in the world ranking, advanced to the quarterfinals after a 3:6, 7:6 victory and a subsequent scratch by his opponent. In it, the wild card holder, compatriot Pierre-Hugues Herbert, awaits him.
