Timeless Stan Wawrinka writes history in Stockholm

10/18/2024 10:24 AM

At 39 and a half years, Stan Wawrinka is still capable of delivering notable results! The three-time Major winner is through to his 64th ATP semi-final in Stockholm following a tight 7-6, 7-6 victory over the top seed Andrey Rublev. Thus, the Swiss achieved his best result since Umag last year and entered history books. Stan earned his first top-10 win since Cincinnati 14 months ago and became the second-oldest player in this century to achieve that after Feliciano Lopez. Also, the 39-year-old is the third-oldest ATP semi-finalist since 1990 after Jimmy Connors and Ivo Karlovic. Wawrinka and Rublev battled for the fifth time and almost nine years following their first clash in Chennai 2016. They stayed neck and neck from start to finish, with the veteran taking three points more than the better-ranked opponent. Andrey denied two of three break points and converted one of four chances on the return, battling hard but falling in the closing stages of both tie breaks.

The Russian was off to a reliable start, losing only a couple of points behind the initial shot in the opening four service games, firing a service winner at 3-3 to impose his fourth advantage. The Swiss squandered game points in the eighth game and experienced issues, offering his rival two break chances. Stan erased them with powerful serves and held after the rival's loose forehand, locking the result at 4-4 and remaining on the positive side. They provided four comfortable holds in the remaining games and arranged a tie break. Rublev grabbed the first mini-break in the third point before dropping two points on serve to fall 3-2 behind. Wawrinka served well in the next two points, generating a 5-2 lead and earning four set points with another mini-break in the eighth point. The top seed made one last push and pulled both mini-breaks back, reducing the deficit to 6-5. However, Andrey missed a backhand in the 12th point, handing the opener to his opponent after 55 minutes.

Stan carried that boost and secured a break at love in the second game of the second set, causing the rival's mistake with a powerful backhand and moving closer to the finish line. However, Rublev bounced back and pulled the break back a few minutes later, reducing the deficit and returning to the positive side. The Russian survived break points in the fourth game, and they both served well to lock the result at 5-5. The veteran denied the last break chance in the 11th game, and they headed toward the second tie break. They traded early mini-breaks, and the Swiss scored another at 3-3 with a backhand down the line attack. Wawrinka missed a routine volley in the ninth point, keeping his rival in contention. The top seed missed a forehand in the 11th point, offering Stan a match point and smashing his racquet. The 39-year-old seized it and cracked a powerful backhand down the line en route to his best victory in 14 months.