Stan Wawrinka is off to a winning start at the Shanghai Masters. The Swiss secured his first victory at this event since 2016 following a tight 7-6, 7-6 triumph over the young Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in an hour and 48 minutes.
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Thus, Stan became the third 39-year-old player to win a Masters 1000 match, joining Jimmy Connors and Ivo Karlovic on the exclusive list. In comparison, the other great Swiss, Roger Federer, could not achieve this, turning 39 in 2020 when he already struggled with a knee injury and playing no Masters 1000 events by the end of his career.
Stan defended two set points in the opener and one in the second set, celebrating the triumph at 39 years and six months and entering the history books. Alongside his age milestone, the win over Mpetshi Perricard is Wawrinka's 100th at a Masters 1000 level on hard court.
The veteran served at only 49%, drawing the most from that and dominating with his first serve.
Stan defended all three break points, including two set points in the 12th game of the opener, mounting the pressure on the other side.
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Giovanni fought well, denying five break points in the 11th game of the opener and another in set number two, remaining neck and neck with a three-time Major champion. Mpetshi Perricard had a set point in the second tie break, missing it and experiencing a tight loss.
They fired 75 service winners and had more winners than unforced errors in a high-quality battle. Stan landed 34 direct points and 19 unforced mistakes, overpowering the opponent's 33-31 ratio. The young gun built a slight edge in the shortest rallies up to four strokes, and the veteran erased the deficit in the more advanced ones, taming his strokes nicely and earning a memorable victory.
Giovanni made a reliable start, blasting a forehand down the line winner and holding at love in the opening game.
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Stan Wawrinka is the third-oldest winner of a Masters 1000 match.
Wawrinka held at 30 in the second game before his rival fired more winners in the next one, closing it with a booming serve and forging a 2-1 advantage.
The 39-year-old responded with a service winner in the fourth game, locking the result at 2-2 after ten minutes. The giant server forged another lead with an unreturned serve in the fifth game and generated a break chance in the next one after the rival's double fault.
Stan denied it with a forced error and held with another for 3-3. Mpetshi Perricard blasted an ace in the seventh game, forging another advantage before Wawrinka secured a hold at 15 for more drama. Producing one good hold after another, the Frenchman landed an ace in the ninth game, moving 5-4 in front and forcing his opponent to serve to stay in the set.
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The veteran felt no pressure, firing a backhand down the line winner and locking the result at 5-5 after 32 minutes. Giovanni barely lost a couple of points in the opening five service games, and it all changed in game 11.
Stan forced his error and created three break chances.
The youngster denied them with strong hitting and repelled two more with booming serves before bringing the game home with another. Wawrinka squandered his opportunities and struggled behind the initial shot at 5-6, missing a half-volley and facing two set points.
The veteran saved them with winners and held after drawing the rival's mistake, introducing a tie break. It started with winners, and the Swiss added one from his forehand at 2-2 for a mini-break. The 39-year-old landed two more direct points for 5-2 and took another on the return for four set points.
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Giovanni lost another point on his serve after a double fault, allowing Stan to clinch the opener in 54 minutes. Wawrinka held after a deuce in the first game of the second set, and they served well in the next four games, mirroring the scoreboard of the opening set.
The veteran made a push on the return in the sixth game and painted a forehand crosscourt winner for a break chance.
The young gun denied it and fired a booming serve, leveling the score at 3-3 and remaining in contention.
Stan produced a fine hold in the ninth game, and Giovanni stayed focused while serving to prolong the battle. The Frenchman did that in style and delivered another fine hold at 5-6 with an unreturned serve to introduce a tie break.
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The giant server fired two powerful serves for 2-1 before Wawrinka responded with two direct points, moving 3-2 ahead. A smash winner and a booming serve pushed the young gun 4-3 up before missing a routine forehand on the return.
Giovanni left that chance behind and landed two winners for a 6-5 lead and a set point. Stan saved it with a service winner on the second serve and earned a match point with a forehand winner. The Swiss returned the rival's serve and welcomed a wild forehand from the Frenchman, sealing the deal and moving into the second round.
