ATP Tour

Wawrinka, 40, downs Boogaard in historic ATP age gap clash in Rotterdam

Stan Wawrinka marked another memorable moment in his farewell season on Wednesday at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam, where he defeated 17-year-old Dutch lucky loser Thijs Boogaard in the first round.

The 40-year-old Swiss star, who captured the ATP 500 title in 2015, downed Boogaard 6-4, 6-3 in a clash spanning more than two decades in age difference. The 23 years and three months separating Wawrinka and Boogaard now ranks as the second-largest age gap in ATP Tour and Grand Slam history, trailing only Dominic Thiem’s 2011 win over Thomas Muster by two years and eight months.

Biggest age gaps on the ATP Tour (since 1990)

Next up, Wawrinka will face top seed and two-time defending finalist Alex de Minaur, promising another high-stakes encounter as the former No. 3 player in the PIF ATP Rankings continues his swan song on Tour.

“He’s a tough player,” Wawrinka said of de Minaur, who leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 1-0. “Especially in these conditions, it’s going to be difficult to generate something. But I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’ve been playing some good matches against top players, so I’m always trying to push myself.”

Wawrinka made headlines at the Australian Open last month by becoming the oldest man to reach the third round of the hard-court major since Ken Rosewall.

In other first-round action on Wednesday, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alexander Bublik and Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced. Fresh off his title run in Montpellier, the 2022 Rotterdam champion Auger-Aliassime eliminated Alexei Popyrin 7-5, 6-3. It was the first time the second seed had overcame the Australian, improving to 1-2 in the pair's Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Top 10 star Bublik downed Hubert Hurkacz 6-7(2), 7-6(1), 7-5 in two hours and 25 minutes, rallying from a break down in the second set at 5-4 to eventually advance. It was a painful defeat for Hurkacz, who was celebrating his 29th birthday.

Tsitsipas improved to 6-0 in opening-round matches at the ATP 500 event, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. The Greek beat eighth seed Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 6-3 and will next play Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.

Dutch wild card Guy Den Ouden dispatched Marton Fucsovics 7-6(5), 6-1, while Karen Khachanov moved past home hope Jesper de Jong 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. Australian qualifier Christopher O'Connell overcame sixth seed Cameron Norrie 7-6(9), 6-4 to become the first player to reach the quarter-finals in Rotterdam.