(Monte-Carlo) Stan Wawrinka, 90th in the world and winner in 2014, qualified for the second round of the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 on Monday by beating Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor (35th) 5-7, 6-3, 6- 4.
The 38-year-old Swiss will face 10th-placed American Taylor Fritz for a spot in the round of 16.
“It’s a joy to be here… It hasn’t been easy. A first round, which is more on clay, you have to go get it. I expected a tough game and it took a lot of patience, I had to stay calm,” commented Wawrinka.
Monte-Carlo is the third most successful Masters 1000 category tournament for him since the start of his career, with 22 games won (27 in Indian Wells and 24 in Rome), including a final against Roger Federer in 2014.
But he hasn’t passed the second round since 2017.
Winner of three Grand Slam tournaments and ex-N. 3 in the world, Wawrinka is trying to regain his best level after two seasons marred by injuries.
The Italian Matteo Berrettini, 22nd in the world who had not won a single match in the Masters 1000 for more than a year, qualified Monday for the second round in Monte-Carlo where he dominated the American Maxime Cressy ( 40th) 6-4, 6-2.
“The start of the season was difficult for a whole host of reasons, but I am now doing what I love to do again, which is to fight on the tennis court, especially in such a beautiful and important tournament. “, rejoiced the ex-N. 6 at the ATP.
“The level of play was very high, it’s not easy to play against Maxime, but I was able to rely on the incredible support of the public,” he added.
He will face, in an attempt to climb into the round of 16, the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo (33rd) who defeated Briton Cameron Norrie (14th) 6-3, 6-4 on Monday.
Wimbledon finalist in 2021, Berrettini (26) had never won a match on Monaco clay in his two previous appearances, in 2019 and 2021. Last year, he had wrist surgery in March and had missed the clay-court season.
“After the operation, I was not sure if I could come back at all. But today the level was there,” admitted the Italian.
“When you get hurt repeatedly, it takes a lot of energy to come back. At one point, I had none. So I’m very happy to be here, I feel good, I’ve got my energy back and I’m ready to go,” he said.
His last Masters 1000 victory was at Indian Wells 2022 where he beat Lloyd Harris in the third round before losing to Miomir Kecmanovic in the round of 16. Soon after, he had surgery.
This year, he was eliminated in the first round of the Australian Open by a raging Andy Murray, then he retired in the quarter-finals in Acapulco and was beaten as soon as he entered the competition in Indian Wells.
Returned to play a Challenger tournament in Phoenix, he was beaten there in the quarterfinals before giving in again to Miami.