Stan Wawrinka, playing the fourth event of his ‘farewell tour’, defeated Lucky Loser Thijs Boogaard 6-4 6-3 to reach the second round of the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam, and the ATP 500 event he won in 2025.
I’ve played some good games against top players, so I always try to push myself Stan Wawrinka
The age difference of 23 years and 3 months between the 40-year-old Swiss and his 17-year-old Dutch opponent is the second largest age difference in a match played on the ATP Tour and Grand Slams.
A tougher match awaits Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, when he faces top-seeded Alex de Minaur in the second round, after the Australian had earlier knocked out Frenchman Arthur Fils 7-6(3) 6-2.
“He’s a tough player,” Wawrinka said of de Minaur, the world number 8. “Especially in these conditions it will be difficult to generate anything. But I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’ve played some good games against top players, so I always try 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 Bublic and Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced to the second round.
Fresh from his title run in Montpellier, Rotterdam’s 2022 champion Auger-Aliassime, second seed, defeated Alexei Popyrin 7-5 6-3 for his first victory over the Australian in three meetings.
Bublik battled past Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 6-7(2) 7-6(1) 7-5 in two hours and 25 minutes, recovering from a break in the second set at 5-4 to eventually advance.
Tsitsipas defeated eighth seed Arthur Rinderknech of France 7-5 6-3 and will next play Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.
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Dutch wildcard Guy Den Ouden surprised Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics 7-6(5) 6-1, while fifth seed Karen Khachanov eased past home hope Jesper de Jong 3-6 6-4 7-5.
British hopes were dashed by Australian qualifier Chrsitopher who defeated six seed Cameron Norrie, 7-6(9) 6-4 to become the first player to reach the quarter-finals in Rotterdam and was later joined by seven seed Tallon Greekpoor, who saw out Quentin Halys 7-5 7-6(11),
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