ROTTERDAM, Netherlands: Stan Wawrinka was knocked out of the Rotterdam ATP meeting in the first round on Tuesday after being seen off in straight sets 6-4, 7-5 by Russia’s Karen Khachanov.
The three-time Grand Slam winner, playing in his first ATP match since losing a five-set epic to Marton Fucsovics at the Australian Open, was put away by world number 21 Khachanov in a fairly comfortable fashion.
Big-hitter Khachanov eased through the match without dropping a service game to eighth seed Wawrinka.
The 24-year-old will face British qualifier Cameron Norrie in the last 16.
Khachanov’s countryman and fourth seed Andrey Rublev strolled into the next round thanks to a 7-6 (8/1), 6-3 win over American qualifier Marcos Giron.
Later on Tuesday world number six Stefanos Tsitsipas takes on Egor Gerasimov in his first match since falling at the semifinal stage of the Australian Open to Rotterdam top seed Daniil Medvedev. — AFP
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
