Wawrinka Enjoys Home-Court Advantage In Geneva

  • Posted: May 23, 2018

Wawrinka Enjoys Home-Court Advantage In Geneva

Two-time defending champion will next meet Hungary’s No. 1

Nothing quite like returning home to make you feel good, is there? Swiss Stan Wawrinka reached his fourth consecutive Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open quarter-final on Wednesday, beating American Jared Donaldson 6-3, 6-4 in 68 minutes.

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Wawrinka, who endured two knee surgeries last August, controlled the second-round contest, never facing a break point and twice breaking Donaldson, who reached his maiden ATP World Tour semi-final in March (l. to Anderson) at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, an ATP World Tour 500 event.

“I’m happy with my match today. I felt good out there. This will be the first time in a while that I play back-to-back matches. I like to play in front of the Swiss crowd and the fans have always given me great support here,” Wawrinka said.

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Wawrinka had lost his clay-court season debut to Steve Johnson of the U.S. at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome last week, but he looked fresh and agile as he attacked the 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier. The 33-year-old right-hander improved to 4-5 on the year and 10-1 in Geneva. He will next meet Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics, who beat #NextGenATP American Frances Tiafoe 7-6(5), 6-4.

Second seed Fabio Fognini, a Rome quarter-finalist a week ago, came back to beat Noah Rubin of the U.S. 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-2.

“It’s always tough to start from the second round and play your first match…He was playing good,” Fognini said. “I’m happy because tomorrow I have another chance to play here, quarter-final and try to improve my game.”

Italy’s No. 1 will next meet Tennys Sandgren of the U.S., who defeated Mirza Basic of Bosnia and Herzegovina 6-3, 6-2. Seventh seed Italian Andreas Seppi also advanced, dismissing Spanish qualifier Bernabe Zapata Miralles 7-5, 6-3. Seppi will next face Peter Gojowczyk of Germany.

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