Stan Wawrinka was among a trio of former Top 10 players who advanced Wednesday at the ATP Challenger Tour 175 event in Bordeaux, France, where Andy Murray and Roberto Bautista Agut also moved into the second round.
The 39-year-old Swiss bruised the ball from the baseline and sent Bernabe Zapata Miralles from corner to corner en route to a 7-5, 6-3 victory at the BNP Paribas Primrose. Wawrinka recovered from a slow start, dropping serve in the opening game before increasing his firepower to end his four-match skid across all levels.
The former No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings earned a crucial break at 6-5 in the opening set to gain an advantage and built upon his momentum, losing just four points behind his first delivery in the second set. Wawrinka next faces second seed Pedro Martinez.
Murray returned to action for the first time since suffering an ankle injury in Miami. The seventh-seeded wild card, who was celebrating his 37th birthday Wednesday, led home hope Kyrian Jacquet 7-5, 2-0 when the Frenchman retired due to a left adductor injury. Fellow Tour veteran Bautista Agut defeated sixth seed Mackenzie McDonald 7-6(2), 6-0.
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In other Bordeaux action, #NextGenATP lefty Shang Juncheng moved closer to securing his Top 100 debut with a 6-4, 7-5 win against Hugo Gaston. The Chinese teen is up to No. 101 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. Daniel Evans also advanced in straight sets, defeating wild card Hugo Grenier 6-4, 6-4.
Turin Challenger
Rain in Turin cancelled much of Wednesday's play at the Piemonte Open Intesa Sanpaolo, where German Yannick Hanfmann led countryman Maximilian Marterer 6-4, 0-1 when the 28-year-old retired due to a left knee injury in the only completed main-draw match.
A host of home favourites will compete Thursday in Italy, including top seed Lorenzo Musetti, Fabio Fognini, Lorenzo Sonego and Luciano Darderi.
Lorenzo Musetti during a Wednesday press conference at the Turin Challenger. Credit: Mike Lawrence/ATP Tour
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