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ATP Rotterdam: Wawrinka, Murray, Nishikori - the "oldies" with tricky tasks

The ATP Tour 500 tournament in Rotterdam already starts in round one with a few hits. Above all, Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori had difficult opponents drawn.

by tennisnet.com
last edit: Feb 28, 2021, 05:14 pm

No time to play in for Stan in Rotterdam
© Getty Images
No time to play in for Stan in Rotterdam

Admittedly, in times when an almost 40-year-old Roger Federer is about to make his comeback on the ATP tour, Kei Nishikori with his only 31 years of age potentially still has many glorious years ahead of him. On the other hand, the Japanese has been an integral part of the tennis scene for so many years that he is at least passed as a veteran. And in terms of star power, it can definitely keep up with Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka. Although the latter two were able to win three titles each at Grand Salm tournaments, Nishikori was only once in a final of the major.

From Monday, a high-profile part of the tennis stars will meet in Rotterdam, including Nishikori, Wawrinka and Murray. And all three have drawn interesting lots. Kei Nishikori, for example, has to face Félix Auger-Aliassime right from the start. The Canadian is traveling with mixed feelings: last year he was in the final in Rotterdam, where he lost to Gael Monfils. Things also went well at the Australian Open 2021 - until Auger-Aliassime gave up a two-set lead over Aslan Karatsev in the round of 16. Nishikori won the only game with Auger-Aliassime in Barcelona in 2019 on clay.

Wawrinka versus Khachanov

Stan Wawrinka got it only slightly easier: the Swiss delivered a drama with all sorts of ingredients (big comeback, match balls awarded) in his defeat in Melbourne by Marton Fucsovics, he meets Karen Khachanov in Rotterdam in round one. Wawrinka and Khachanov have played three encounters so far, the Swiss, who is eighth in Rotterdam, leads with 2-1 wins.

And Andy Murray threatens one thing above all with opponent Robn Haase: a longer affair. The first of five meetings on the ATP tour between Murray and Haase actually took place in Rotterdam - 13 years ago. At that time, the Dutchman had his only success against Murray. The last game, however, was almost six years ago: In 2015 the Scot won Wimbledon in three straight sets.

Here the single tableau in Rotterdam

by tennisnet.com

Sunday
Feb 28, 2021, 06:25 pm
last edit: Feb 28, 2021, 05:14 pm