Stan Wawrinka edges past Marco Chiundinelli to end Basel losing run
Thursday 27 October 2016 10:49, UK
Stan Wawrinka came from a set down against wildcard Marco Chiundinelli to end his losing streak in Basel and reach the second round of the Swiss Indoors on Tuesday.
The US Open champion had gone out in the first round on his previous four appearances at the tournament but eventually prevailed against his Swiss Davis Cup team-mate 6-7, 6-1, 6-4 in two hours 31 minutes.
It was a much-needed win for the world No 3, against a man ranked 116 places below him, and was notable for being one of the few results to go to form.
Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic was dispatched by Lithuanian qualifier Richard Berankis 3-6 6-3 6-3, Italy's Paolo Lorenzi saw off Nicolas Mahut 6-4 7-6, and Grigor Dimitrov suffered a 6-7 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Gilles Muller of Luxembourg.
With Andy Murray playing in Vienna and Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal all absent, Wawrinka is the biggest name remaining in the draw.
The Swiss has never passed the semi-finals in Basel, a tournament he's entered a dozen times, but was delighted to have stopped just shy of five consecutive first round defeats.
"It was a tough physical and mental battle; a huge fight with Marco. He was playing at home and had the crowd on his side," Wawrinka said.
"He played great and I had to fight, I needed to work hard to find a winning solution.
"The third set was so tight, I'm just very content to get past the first round. I'll prepare for Thursday and hope to go further in the tournament."
Wawrinka will face American qualifier Donald Young, currently ranked 83 in the world, in the next round.
