Stan Wawrinka (ATP 109) sets an exclamation mark in his opening match at the Olympic tournament with a 6:1, 6:1 win against the Russian Pawel Kotow. Now he wants to ensure a season premiere.
When Pawel Kotow, ranked 47 places higher in the world rankings, took a medical timeout after losing the first set 1:6, Wawrinka hit a few shots without the ball and the crowd shouted "Olé" each time. At one point, the 39-year-old from Vaud stopped the movement. He was clearly enjoying the match, kept the level high in the second round and converted his first match point after 53 minutes with a forehand winner.
Anyone watching this match could not imagine that Wawrinka had lost to the 25-year-old Russian in four sets in the second round of the French Open two months earlier. "It was a difficult defeat to digest," Wawrinka looked back. In this respect, it was important for him to start well and play aggressively right from the start. The 2015 French Open winner started with two aces and took Kotov's serve at the first opportunity. "That freed me up." Compared to the last duel, he was much more confident today and didn't give him much time.
When asked whether people had seen the "real" Wawrinka today, he replied: "It's the real one every day, whatever happens. Unfortunately, in tennis and in sport in general, you can't always be at the top." Was it his best match this year? It was definitely the easiest victory. Wawrinka emphasized that he had also played well in other matches, that he was training very well and that he felt good physically.
However, the results speak a different language. Including Challenger tournaments, Wawrinka has never celebrated two successes in a row this season, so he can ensure a first this year in Paris. He is of course aware of his fatal record, which is why he did not want to overestimate the clear victory. "Every match is a new challenge," said Wawrinka. However, he really enjoys representing Switzerland and then at Roland Garros, where he enjoys a lot of sympathy. "I'm trying to make the best of it."
