Dimitrov, Wawrinka Win Rotterdam Openers

Alyssa van Heyst/ABN AMRO Open

Grigor Dimitrov wasted little time kick-starting his 2023 ABN AMRO Open campaign on Monday, when the World No. 28 eased past Aslan Karatsev 6-1, 6-3 in just 59 minutes in Rotterdam.

The Bulgarian is a former finalist at the ATP 500 tournament, and he delivered a confident performance on the indoor hard courts of the Rotterdam Ahoy. Dimitrov did not face a break point against Karatsev and converted four from five of his own to improve his record in opening rounds at the event to 8-1.

"I came out to compete. I was kind of eager after Australia. I didn't play anything," said Dimitrov. "I had some time to spend at home... I got fed up with practice. I was like, 'OK, it's go time!'

"I was happy that also I'm getting nervous before matches," he continued. "I'm very happy with that, to be honest, because I'm embracing it. It means that I still care a lot and I still want to do a lot every time that I get out there on the court. Today that was my goal, to get out there and play a really good game."

It was a second victory of 2023 for Dimitrov against the three-time tour-level titlist Karatsev. The pair also met in the first round at January’s Australian Open, where the Bulgarian also prevailed as a straight-sets winner. The 31-year-old Dimitrov went on to reach the third round in Melbourne, where he was beaten by eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

The eight-time ATP Tour champion’s reward for Monday’s victory is a second-round clash against fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz or Roberto Bautista Agut.

Stan Wawrinka also made a strong start to his campaign in Rotterdam, earning a 7-6(5), 6-4 win against Alexander Bublik. It was Wawrinka's second win against the Kazakh this season, after a straight-sets win at the United Cup.

The Swiss saved the only break point he faced in the match, winning 84 per cent of his first-serve points. Bublik had an opportunity for an immediate break back with Wawrinka serving at 3-2 in the second set, but the 37-year-old saw off the danger and won 11 of his final 12 service points to close out the win.

"I think it's my best performance since I came back from my [left foot] injury last year," said Wawrinka, who improved to 3-3 this season. "I've been working really hard to be fit again, feeling food. Tonight, tennis-wise and fitness-wise I'm feeling great, so hopefully I can keep going.

"I know I need to push myself, I know the process takes time, especially at my age. But I also know the way I'm playing, the way I'm practising, the way I'm working hard, I will get some big results this year."

He will next face Richard Gasquet, who upset seventh seed Pablo Carreno Busta 2-6, 7-6(2), 6-2. Rounding out the day's action in Rotterdam, Frenchman Gregoire Barrere scored a 6-0, 7-6(3) win against David Goffin.