KHACHANOV CATCHES BIG FISH

Wawrinka exits ATP tourney

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AFP) — Stan Wawrinka was knocked out of the Rotterdam ATP meeting in the first round on Tuesday after losing in straight sets 6-4, 7-5 to Russia’s Karen Khachanov.

The three-time Grand Slam winner, playing in his first match since going down in a five-set epic to Marton Fucsovics at the Australian Open, was beaten by world’s No. 21 Khachanov in fairly comfortable fashion.

The in-form Russian will face former world’s No. 1 Andy Murray in the second round.

Big-hitter Khachanov eased through the match without dropping a service game to eighth seed Wawrinka.

The 24-year-old will face British qualifier Cameron Norrie in the Last 16.

Khachanov’s countryman and fourth seed Andrey Rublev strolled into the next round thanks to a 7-6 (8/1), 6-3 win over American qualifier Marcos Giron.

The in-form Russian will face former world’s No. 1 Andy Murray in the second round.

“Andy is a true legend and I have a really good connection with him,” Rublev said.

“I really like him as a person and as a player. He destroyed me once in the past (6-3, 6-0, 6-2 in 2017 Australian Open second round).”

“I’m sure we’ll have great, long rallies and it will be a fight.”

Second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas eased into round two with a 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 victory over Belarusian Egor Gerasimov.

The Greek, who beat Rafael Nadal en route to the Australian Open semifinals last month, dropped his serve once in each set but did enough to set up a last-16 tie with Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, who saw off Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 7-6 (8/6).

“We’ve played a lot in the past. He’s a great opponent, he’s been giving me a hard time. It’s a challenge going into that match,” Tsitsipas said.