PRAGUE, August 17, 2020
Stan Wawrinka has returned to the ATP Challenger Tour for the first time since lifting the trophy on home soil in Lugano 10 years ago. The 35-year-old Swiss opened his title bid in the second round of the € 137,560 I.CLTK Prague Open 2020 by Moneta with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 victory over Roman Safiullin from Russia on Monday afternoon.
Wawrinka, the top seed of the ATP Challenger 125 clay-court event, converted six of his 13 break point chances to advance after one hour and 50 minutes.
“Rusty but happy to be back,” Warinka commented on Twitter. The World No. 17 will next take on in-form German Oscar Otte, who eased past No. 13 seed Arthur Rinderknech of France, winning 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and seven minutes.
Rusty but happy to be back 😏🎾😅🙄🙏🏻❤️ #backatit #competition #trusttheprocess #stantheman pic.twitter.com/URz5qOIW0v
— Stanislas Wawrinka (@stanwawrinka) August 17, 2020
Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert also booked his spot in the third round following a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over 19-year-old Czech Jonas Forejtek. The No. 3 seed finished the encounter in one hour and 58 minutes. Up next for Herbert will be local favourite Zdenek Kolar.
No. 4 seed Philipp Kohlschreiber started his Prague campaign with a 6-1, 7-6(3) victory against fellow German Mats Moraing. The 36-year-old Augsburg native will next play the winner of the match between Czech wild card entry Michael Vrbensky and No. 16 seeded Canadian Steven Diez.
