Three-time Slam winner Wawrinka ousted by qualifier Young in Washington
WASHINGTON: Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, struggling in his comeback from left knee surgery, was ousted by US qualifier Donald Young at the ATP and WTA Washington Open on Tuesday.
Young, ranked 234th, outlasted the 33year-old Swiss 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/3) and advanced to a second-round match with Japanese seventh seed Kei Nishikori.
“It was a tough fight, a lot of nerves because he can hit any shot,” Young said. “Stan at the top is totally different than when he’s working his way back. I’m sure he’ll be back. I won’t want to play him when he’s back.”
Wawrinka, ranked 198th, fell to 6-11 this year after missing most of nine months before returning in May.
“It’s painful to lose in the first round here, especially 7-6 in the third,” Wawrinka said. “I was missing a lot for sure. It’s tough when you haven’t played a lot of matches. Tough loss for sure.”
On the women’s side, reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens opened by beating fellow American Bethanie MattekSands 7-5, 6-4.
Third-ranked Stephens, who captured her first Grand Slam title last year in New York, rallied from 5-2 down in the first set to book a second-round match against Germany’s Andrea Petkovic.
“I’m super excited about the hardcourt season again,” Stephens said. “It was good I was able to fight back and win.”
Wawrinka, who began his career in 2002, won his first Grand Slam title at the 2014 Australian Open and added the 2015 French Open and 2016 US Open titles. He reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2014 and 2015 but hasn’t gotten past the second round since.
Hard-learned patience over 12 years before his Slam breakthrough is paying dividends as Wawrinka tries to recapture top form.
“There are different steps. Right now is to get back a little confidence and get rid of all the doubt you have in your game,” Wawrinka said.