World No 8 clinches 7-5, 6-2 final win over Vasselin; says this title is his perfect platform for Australian Open up next
World No 8 Stanislas Wawrinka warmed up for the Australian Open later this month by bagging the ATP Chennai Open title with a fluent victory over Edouard Roger-Vasselin yesterday.
Is that a bat? Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka holds up a bat gifted to him after he won the Chennai Open title yesterday. Pic/AFP
The top-seeded Swiss, playing his 500th ATP Tour match, outclassed the 52nd-ranked Frenchman 7-5, 6-2 in the 90-minute final at the Nungambakkam Tennis Stadium.
It was the fifth career title and the second in Chennai for 28-year-old Wawrinka, who emerged from the shadows of his renowned Swiss compatriot Roger Federer with a top 10 finish last year.
“This is big for sure,” said Wawrinka, who has a 302-198 career win-loss record. “It has been an amazing week for me and put me in the right frame for the Australian Open.
Winning in Chennai means a lot to me. I like the place and that is why I have played here for six years now. This is just the place I want to start the season from.
“Last year was very good for me and I hope this year will also be the same. I have practised hard and tried to improve my game.
This is just the first tournament of the year, I hope I can continue this way.” The morale-boosting win ahead of the year’s first Grand Slam in Melbourne, starting January 13, earned Wawrinka the winner’s purse of USD 72,490 and 250 ranking points. Seventh-seed Roger-Vasselin received USD 38,180 and 150 points.
The first set lasted an hour as both players held serve till the 10th game, before Wawrinka broke in the 11th with a backhand cross-court that left Roger-Vasselin stranded.
The Frenchman, playing only his second final in a 12-year career, lost his serve in the opening game of the second set and then again in the fifth game before Wawrinka served out the match with an ace.
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