A couple of days after becoming the third-oldest ATP semi-finalist since 1990, Stan Wawrinka secured another milestone at home in Basel. Competing at the ATP 50 event for the 17th time, the three-time Major winner ousted Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in two hours and one minute, beating the Frenchman for the first time. At 39 years and six months, Wawrinka became the oldest player with a win in Basel, leaving Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer behind!
Connors' deep Basel run at 39
The American turned 39 in September 1991 during his incredible US Open run. A few weeks later, Jimmy competed in Basel and made a convincing start, beating three rivals in straight sets and entering the semi-final. Connors faced his great rival John McEnroe and fell 6-1, 6-3, playing his last encounter in Basel. The eight-time Major champion stood as the oldest winner of a match at this event for twenty-three years before Wawrinka passed him and stole the record.
Roger Federer's final Basel dance
The Swiss maestro competed in his hometown 19 times between 1998 and 2019, lifting ten trophies. Roger crowned his final Basel visit with the tenth trophy in 2019, ousting four rivals in straight sets en route to his 103rd and last ATP title. Federer took down Peter Gojowczyk and Radu Albot en route to the quarter-final before Wawrinka gave him a walkover. The home legend ousted Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-final after a rock-solid performance and arranged the title clash with Alex de Minaur. The Swiss dominated the Aussie on the home court, notching a 6-2, 6-2 victory in 68 minutes and securing the tenth and last title in his hometown.
Wawrinka shines in front of the home fans
Stan gathered a boost in Antwerp and used it at another indoor event. The home favorite fired 13 aces against Mannarino and made the difference with the first serve. The 39-year-old struggled on the second and lost serve two times from three chances offered to his opponent. The Frenchman could not find the first serve, dropping 36% of the points in his games and finishing on the losing side after getting broken three times. Stan imposed his strokes and fired 32 winners and 34 unforced errors, with Adrian standing on an 18-20 ratio. Mannarino had a slight edge from the baseline, but Wawrinka erased that deficit with a powerful performance from his initial shot, firing 35 service winners and leaving his opponent on 22. The Frenchman built the advantage in the most advanced exchanges, and the Swiss reigned in the shortest ones, earning the win in that segment.
The home favorite was off to a great start, delivering a double break and racing into a 5-0 advantage. Stan held at love in the first game of the encounter with a service winner and erased a 40-15 deficit on the return in game two. Adrian faced a break point and netted a backhand, losing serve and experiencing an early setback. Wawrinka held in the third game and made another push on the return in the next one. The Swiss attacked with his backhand and drew the rival's mistake, opening a 4-0 lead in 16 minutes. Wawrinka cracked a backhand crosscourt winner in the fifth game, extending the gap and forcing his rival to serve to stay in the set. Mannarino avoided a bagel and pulled one break back in game seven, reducing the deficit to 5-2. The 39-year-old served for the set for the second time at 5-3, landing an ace for a hold at love and building the advantage after 32 minutes.
The Frenchman raised his level in the second set, serving well and keeping the pressure on the other side. They served well in the opening five games, bringing them home in no time. Stan struggled behind the initial shot at 2-3, losing serve after Adrian's backhand crosscourt winner and falling behind. Mannarino served well in games seven and nine, landing a service winner at 5-3 and forcing a decider after an hour and five minutes. Wawrinka denied a break point at the beginning of the final set with a service winner and served well in the remaining games. Adrian landed a service winner in the second game and leveled the score at 2-2 after the rival's loose forehand. Stan held at love in the fifth game with a forehand winner, and they served well in the upcoming ones. The Swiss landed an ace in the 11th point for 6-5 and made a decisive push on the return in the next one. The home favorite created three match points and converted the second after Mannarino's forehand error, making a winning start to his 17th Basel campaign.
