ATP Metz: Stan Wawrinka creates qualification, Dominic Thiem does not start until Wednesday
A sense of achievement for Stan Wawrinka : The three-time major champion, still on the way to a comeback, has qualified for the ATP tournament in Metz. Dominic Thiem is also in the main field - but he will only intervene on Wednesday.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Sep 19, 2022, 08:47 pm
"Stan the Man" made his comeback in the spring and hasn't really caught on yet. Three wins are offset by nine defeats, only at the Masters tournament in Rome did Wawrinka win two matches in a row. Last: Sustained it six losses in a row.
In Metz, the 37-year-old now had to go through the qualification, which he passed. Wawrinka first beat the first seeded Laslo Djere 6:4, 6:3, today he fought his way through against Zsombor Piros 6:7, 6:2, 6:0.
The reward: the leap into the main draw, where Wawrinka has to play against Joao Sousa on Wednesday. Should he win, there would be a duel with the top-rated Daniil Medvedev...
Dominic Thiem in Metz on Wednesday
Also in the main field is Dominic Thiem, who uses his protected ranking in Metz. Thiem, who was in the final at the Challenger tournament in Rennes last week , meets a local hero in Richard Gasquet. And also on Wednesday. Probably in prime time, especially since the French appreciate the poetry of a one-handed backhand - and even more so that of two.
At the start from a German point of view: Oscar Otte, also on a comeback path and had a bit of bad luck at the Davis Cup last year and arrived in France with three defeats. He doesn't have to go until Wednesday either.
And on Tuesday? Plays among others Gilles Simon on his farewell tour, he meets David Goffin. In doubles, Robin Haase/Philipp Oswald are in action against Alexander Bublik/Lorenzo Sonetti and Tim Pütz/Michael Venus against Gregoire Barrere/Quentin Halys.