Wawrinka picks up rare victory in Rome, Halep and Azarenka advance
Wawrinka, who has tumbled from his best ranking of number three in the world to 361st, last tasted success in the opening round of the 2021 Australian Open
Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka insisted he still has “fire” in him ater picking up his first victory in over a year with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over American Reilly Opelka in the first round of the Italian Open on Monday.
The 37-year-old, who has tumbled from his best ranking of number three in the world to 361st, last tasted success in the opening round of the 2021 Australian Open when he beat Marton Fucsovics in five sets.
This year he had previously lost in the opening rounds in the only two tournaments he had entered, in Marbella then Monte Carlo, ater struggling with a long-term foot injury that has dogged him since 2019.
“Ater two surgeries, at my age I could easily stop playing... but I still have this fire in me,” said Wawrinka.
“I still believe that I can play great tennis. I still believe that I make some big results, maybe not now, but in a few months.”
The crowd cheered warmly as the three-time Grand Slam winner completed victory over the world number 17 Opelka, a semi-finalist here last year, in just over two hours.
“It feels great because so much time I was away from tennis,” he said.
Denis Shapovalov overcame a point penalty and a hostile crowd to beat local hope Lorenzo Sonego 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3.
Late in the second set, Shapovalov was given a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct ater hopping over the net to show the chair umpire a mark on his opponent’s side of the red clay court - which is not permited.
The umpire determined that Shapovalov’s serve was out, resulting in a double fault and a break point for Sonego. Then with the code violation, Shapovalov lost the game to trail 5-3.
Shapovalov reached the semi-finals in Rome two years ago, while Sonego made the last four last year. Sonego said he was penalized by a decision in the first set when the umpire came down to check a mark and made an overrule, awarding the point to Shapovalov when the Italian thought the point should have been replayed.
There was also a questionable overrule in the third set.
Video review was used for calling lines at last week’s Madrid Open. But there is no such system in place in Rome.
Despite the vociferous fans, Shapovalov said he generally enjoys playing in Rome.
Shapovalov will next face Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia, who beat Daniel Evans 7-6 (2), 6-2.
HALEP, AZARENKA WIN : Former world number ones Simona Halep and Victoria Azarenka advanced to the second round of the Italian Open in Rome while four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to an ankle injury.
Halep, champion in Rome in 2020, beat France’s Alize Cornet 6-4 6-4, exacting revenge for her fourth round loss at the Australian Open in January.
In a match that had 10 break points converted by the two players, Halep led 5-1 in both sets before Cornet fought back on both occasions before the Romanian got the job done, sealing progress with a forehand winner on Cornet’s serve.
Azarenka met a familiar foe in Swiss Viktorija Golubic, who she beat at the same stage of the Madrid Open late last month.
Although the match in Madrid was a closer contest, this time Azarenka beat her emphatically with a 6-3 6-0 scoreline, wrapping up the match in just 68 minutes.
Organisers confirmed Osaka had withdrawn due to a let ankle injury and her opponent Sara Sorribes Tormo will now face lucky loser Nuria Parrizas Diaz. Defending champ and top seed Iga Swiatek and Madrid champ Ons Jabeur are in action on Tuesday.