Stan Wawrinka mirrors Roger Federer's Wimbledon milestone at 39

07/05/2024 07:23 AM

Stan Wawrinka entered his 18th Wimbledon as the oldest player in the draw. The 39-year-old veteran did not come to receive the first-round check, using a favorable draw and scoring a win before falling to his great friend Gael Monfils. Stan met Charles Broom, the home player with a wild card, in the first round and earned a 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 triumph in an hour and 49 minutes on Court No. 2, entering history books. Wawrinka became the tenth player in the Open era to score a win at Wimbledon after turning 39. Also, only three players achieved that after Cliff Drysdale in 1980, highlighting the feat even more. Ivo Karlovic joined the list in 2018 and 2019 before Roger Federer joined the party during his last Wimbledon campaign in 2021.

Now, another Swiss is on the exclusive list, following in the footsteps of his great compatriot and teammate. The 26-year-old Broom played his first match at Majors and fought well against the three-time Major winner. Stan fired 11 aces and made the difference with his first serve. The veteran fired 38 winners and unforced errors and defended four out of six break points, keeping the pressure on the other side. Charles dropped 40% of the points in his games, playing against 12 break chances and suffering five breaks. World no. 248 had a chance to grab the second set and level the score, leading 5-2 and squandering four set points. Wawrinka rattled off eight games and sealed the deal in style.

The Briton kicked off his first Major match with two fine holds, staying in touch early in the opener. Wawrinka closed the fifth game with a forehand winner and made a push on the return in the next one. Charles sprayed a forehand error, losing serve at love and falling 4-2 behind. Stan cemented the break with a commanding hold in game seven and wrapped up the opener with a service winner at 5-3. The Briton produced four fine holds in the second set and broke the Swiss in the second game to move in front. Stan netted a backhand in that second game and fell 5-2 behind after Charles' solid service games.

Wawrinka played against three set points on serve in game eight, denying them with winners and extending the battle. Broom netted a routine forehand on a set point on serve at 5-3 and got broken after Wawrinka's backhand crosscourt winner. Stan gained a boost and clinched another break in game 11, moving in front and wrapping up the set with his trademark backhand down the line winner in the next one. They scored three breaks in the opening four games of the third set, and the veteran presented two for a 3-1 lead. They served well in the rest of the duel, and Stan sealed the deal with a backhand down the line winner in game ten, earning a win and entering the history books.