World no. 168 Stan Wawrinka is back at Challengers for the first time since October last year. The oldest player in top-200 has yet to score a win on the ATP level in 2025. The Swiss decided to step down to Challengers, starting his clay swing in Naples.
The former Roland Garros champion faced a qualifier Borna Gojo in the first round and scored a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory in 62 minutes. The veteran claimed 19 points more than his opponent and controlled the pace on serve and return.
Wawrinka served at 51%, and no one could notice that. He barely lost a point behind the first serve and kept the second safe to keep his rival away from break points.
Here’s a Wawrinka special
📷: @ATPChallenger https://t.co/FbbuFbnCfe pic.twitter.com/aWkjYeqpYX— Damian Kust (@damiankust) March 25, 2025
The Croat could not follow that pace. Borna lost 48% of the points in his games and suffered four breaks from seven chances offered to his opponent. They provided four fine holds at the beginning of the duel before Stan stepped in on the return at 2-2.
He wasted two break points before seizing the third after Gojo’s huge backhand error at the net. Stan cemented the break with a forced error in game six and cracked a backhand crosscourt winner in the next one for two break points.
Stan Wawrinka, Umag 2023© Stream screenshot
The Croat played a wayward drop shot on the first, suffering another break and falling 5-2 behind. The veteran served for the opener in game eight and landed a service winner for 6-2 in 27 minutes. The Swiss delivered four fine holds in the second set and kept the pressure on the other side.
Borna wasted a game point at 1-1 and sprayed a forehand error to drop serve and fall a set and a break behind. Wawrinka cemented the lead with a service winner in the next one, moving 3-1 in front and closer to the finish line.
Stan Wawrinka, Umag 2023© Stream screenshot
Stan closed the sixth game with an unreturned serve and moved 4-2 in front. Gojo reduced the gap with a service winner in game seven, and Wawrinka cracked an ace in the next one for 5-3. The Swiss made a push on the return in game nine and created three match points with a slice winner.
The veteran seized the second with a sharp return, delivering another break and moving over the top in style. Stan will face an in-form Borna Coric in the second round, with the Croat notching 16 straight Challenger wins!
Tennis World USA