Wawrinka beats Rublev and is in the semifinals – Stricker fails

Stan Wawrinka (ATP 217) achieves a bigger victory in Stockholm. The French-speaking Swiss defeated top seed Andrej Rublew (ATP 7) 7:6 (7:5), 7:6 (7:5) in the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 tournament. Dominic Stricker fails against Grigor Dimitrov.

The 39-year-old Wawrinka showed strong nerves against Rublew, who turns 27 on Sunday, and won the tiebreak in both sets. In the first he won five points in a row after a double fault and used his fourth set point. In the second tiebreak, Wawrinka took the decisive mini-break at 5:5 and won with a backhand winner.

Third win against Rublev

It was the third victory for the Swiss in the fifth duel between the two Olympic champions – Wawrinka in 2008 in doubles, Rublew in 2021 in mixed doubles. He said after the game: “Against such a strong opponent, it was important to stay focused.” I felt good throughout the game and moved well.”

Wawrinka, who had broken the spell the day before and celebrated two victories in a row for the first time in over 13 months, now followed up with his third success. He hasn’t been this good since last year’s ATP tournament in Umag, when he only had to admit defeat in the final after four wins.

The last hurdle on the way to the final in the Swedish capital is Tommy Paul (ATP 13). The number four seeded American won his quarterfinal against Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic (ATP 55) 7:6 (11:9), 6:2.

Final stop quarter-finals for knitters

In contrast to Wawrinka, Dominic Stricker (ATP 317) reached the quarterfinals in Stockholm. The 22-year-old from Bern, who had previously defeated Aleksander Kovacevic (USA/ATP 90) and Matteo Berrettini (ITA/ATP 42) in Sweden, lost to Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 3:6, 2:6. In the first set, Stricker missed a break chance to take a 4-3 lead against the tenth in the world rankings, and in the second he quickly found himself 0-4 behind. After 72 minutes, Dimitrov used the first match point.

For Stricker – as well as for Wawrinka – the home tournament in Basel will continue next week thanks to a wildcard. Stricker reached the quarterfinals at the Swiss Indoors a year ago.

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