Stan Wawrinka scores a rare indoor-hard Challenger win in Bratislava

10/30/2024 03:15 PM

World no. 149 Stan Wawrinka is eager to wrap up the season on a high note! The 39-year-old entered the Bratislava 2 Challenger, competing on an indoor hard court at this level for the first time since February 2005! Twenty-one years after his first appearance on an indoor hard Challenger, Stan defeated Maximilian Marterer 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 11 minutes in the opening round for a winning start. The Swiss reached the Stockholm semi-final and scored a win in Basel in the previous two weeks, hoping for another good run under a roof in Slovakia.

Nothing separated them after landing in the first serve, and the four-time Major champion made the difference with a rock-solid performance behind the second. The veteran denied three break points at the beginning of the second set and mounted the pressure on the other side, turning 39% of the return points into three breaks from seven opportunities.

Stan served well in the first set and made a push on the return in the early stages. He created two break points in the third game of the duel and missed them after Maximilian's fine hitting. Wawrinka forced the rival's mistake in the fourth game and stepped in on the return in the next one. Marterer netted a backhand and played against two break points. A left-hander saved them before missing a forehand on the third, losing serve and falling 3-2 behind. The four-time Major winner cemented the lead with a forehand winner in the sixth game and completed the next one with a powerful serve for a 5-3 advantage. Stan cracked a forehand winner in the tenth game, earning set points and converting the first for 6-4 in 38 minutes.

The Swiss played his only loose service game at 0-1 in the second set, spraying a backhand error and offering the German three break points. Maximilian sprayed the opening two with errors, and Stan denied the third with a backhand volley winner at the net after an entertaining point and 37 strokes! Wawrinka held and made a push on the return in the next one. He smashed a backhand down the line return winner, earning two break points and making the crowd erupting in joy. Stan drew Maximilian's error, converting the first and opening a set and a break advantage.

The veteran confirmed it with a hold at love in game four and welcomed the rival's loose backhand two games later to remain in front. Marterer held at love in the seventh game, remaining within one break deficit but struggling on the return. Wawrinka closed the eighth game with a service winner, forcing his opponent to serve to stay in the match. A tall German lost the ground in the ninth game, hitting a forehand long and facing three match points. He placed a forehand wide on the first, suffering a break at love and sending the legend over the finish line.