One month ago, Stan Wawrinka was continuing to plot his comeback from a knee injury, struggling to find his elite form and rhythm on the court.
It looks like Stan is the man once again. The former World No. 3 extended his win streak to nine straight at the US Open, overcoming a stern test from 20-year-old Frenchman Ugo Humbert. He outlasted the surging #NextGenATP star 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 on Wednesday.
Oppressive heat and humidity set the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center ablaze on Day 3 and Wawrinka's superior fitness proved critical over the three-hour and 20-minute affair. Despite surrendering a break lead in the second set, the Swiss would have too much firepower for the dogged Humbert, who acquitted himself well in defeat.
[ALSO LIKE]
Two days after upsetting eighth seed Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets, 2016 champion Wawrinka continues to make significant progress in his return to the tour. Also a quarter-finalist at the Western & Southern Open, he is projected to return to the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings a week from Monday.
Meanwhile, Humbert will hold his head high after reaching the second round in not only his Grand Slam debut, but his first tour-level main draw, as a qualifier. The Frenchman has catapulted up the ATP Rankings behind three consecutive final appearances on the ATP Challenger Tour in July, lifting his maiden trophy in Segovia, Spain. Having won 17 of his last 20 matches, he is projected to rise to a career-high inside the Top 120 and will be up to 11th in the ATP Race To Milan.
Wawrinka awaits Milos Raonic next in a blockbuster third round clash. Also coming off a quarter-final run in Cincinnati, the Canadian defeated Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday afternoon. Wawrinka leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head 4-1, but Raonic has taken the most recent encounter, prevailing in five sets at the 2016 Australian Open.
Seeded 25th, Raonic's best result in New York was a Round of 16 appearance on three occasions: 2012, 2013 and 2014. He withdrew from last year's edition with a wrist injury, but is peaking at the right time this year, firing 39 winners, including 17 aces, to dismiss Simon in efficient fashion.
from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/2POOWVK
No comments:
Post a Comment