Stockholm
Wawrinka seals Stockholm SF berth, defying Rublev’s Turin hopes
Wawrinka will take on fourth seed Paul in the final four
October 18, 2024
Anders Wiklund/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images
Stan Wawrinka took down top seed Andrey Rublev on Friday at the BNP Paribas Nordic Open.
By ATP staff
Stan Wawrinka is on the rise in Stockholm.
The Swiss star on Friday delivered a classy display to defeat Andrey Rublev 7-6(5), 7-6(5) and reach the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in the Swedish capital. Wawrinka held strong in the break to seal a one-hour, 52-minute victory and defeat an opponent in the Top 10 of the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time since August 2023.
“The important thing was to stay focused and positive about myself,” said Wawrinka, who trailed 2-0 in the second set before sealing his victory. “Andrey is an amazing player, but I felt good on the field, I was moving well. I might start to say less, and with a lot of support from the masses, it’s easier to fight in court. ”
🔥@stanwawrinka stuns Rublev 7-6(5) 7-6(5) to reach the last 4 in Stockholm!@sthlm_open | #bnpparibasnordicopen pic.twitter.com/ruoDOBKHnj
– ATP Tour (@atptour) October 18, 2024
Former World No. 3 Wawrinka sent 14 aces past Rublev, according to Infosys ATP Stats, en route to a 3-2 lead in the Lexus ATP Head2Head doubles series. Awaiting the three-time major champion in Saturday’s semi-finals will be fourth seed and 2021 Stockholm champion Tommy Paul, who defeated Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6(9), 6-2.
By reaching the last four for the first time in four appearances in Stockholm, the 39-year-old Wawrinka became the third-oldest semifinalist in ATP Tour history (since 1990), behind Jimmy Connors and Ivo Karlovic.
“I can’t change my age, but the important thing for me is that when I enter the court I always try to fight,” said Wawrinka. “I try to improve myself and enjoy what I do. The reason I keep playing games like this, is a lot of people who give me good energy on the field, and I’m very happy to have the opportunity to play another game tomorrow.”
Friday’s loss to Wawrinka set back Rublev’s hopes of making the Nitto ATP Finals for the fifth year in a row. World No. 7 sits eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, but the four players below him are all still competing at the ATP 250 level this week.
One of them is 11th-ranked Paul, who saved a set point at 7/8 in the first tie-break against Kecmanovic before completing his Stockholm quarter-final victory. The American, who is chasing his first appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals, has 645 points ahead of Rublev in eighth place.
