The Remarkable Resurgence of Stan: Wawrinka Defies Injury Woes to Triumph in Roland-Garros Epic
Stan Wawrinka (ATP 89) made a remarkable comeback in his opening match at Roland-Garros. The Swiss player defeated Alberto Ramos-Vinolas (ATP 67) with a score of 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 1-6, and 6-4 in a grueling 4 hours and 38 minutes. In the next round, Wawrinka will face Thanasi Kokkinakis (ATP 108). Meanwhile, Marc-Andrea Hüsler (ATP 84) was eliminated in the opening round, losing 6-3, 6-4, and 6-4 to German player Daniel Altmaier (ATP 79).
After four consecutive first-round defeats in Grand Slam tournaments since his return in spring 2022 following a severe injury, Wawrinka finally tasted victory in a competition of this caliber. He faced an opponent who had missed a match point against Carlos Alcaraz in the previous year’s second round. Initially, the former world number three seemed to be heading for an easy day.
A Sudden Slump
Wawrinka won the first set in a tie-break before gaining the upper hand in the second set. His victory seemed almost guaranteed after breaking Ramos-Vinolas’s serve early in the third set. However, a surprising dip in form allowed the Spanish player to make a comeback, winning a tie-break of his own and leveling the match at 2-2 by mercilessly dominating the fourth set.
Despite looking groggy, grimacing, and slow in his movements, Wawrinka managed to muster the energy needed to regain control of the match in the final set. He achieved breaks in the 3rd and 7th games, only to suffer an immediate break in the 8th. Fortunately, his mental strength proved sufficient to secure the match, advancing to the second round at Porte d’Auteuil. There, he will face Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis (ATP 108) for the first time in his career.
