2023-07-30 21:09:29
– Stan Wawrinka beat in final at Umag
After more than two and a half hours of play, the Vaudois, who had not played a final on the ATP Tour for four years, lost to Australian Alexei Popyrin.
Published: 30.07.2023, 23:09
Stan Wawrinka shouldn’t be ashamed of his defeat in the final after his great week in Croatia.
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Stan Wawrinka (ATP 72) lost Sunday in the final of the ATP 250 tournament in Umag, Croatia, to 23-year-old Australian Alexei Popyrin (ATP 90) 6-7 (5/7) 6-3 6 -4 after 2 hours and 36 minutes of a very intense match.
The 38-year-old Vaudois will therefore have to wait to win a 17th title, but victory was close for the first time since his return to competition sixteen months ago in Monte-Carlo, after a year off due to two operations. on the left foot. Too bad, because if he had won in Croatia, it would have celebrated a birthday with dignity. He indeed won his first title on the ATP Tour in Umag, 17 years ago to the day, against a certain Novak Djokovic.
Popyrin’s service
Sunday, against Popyrin, 1 meter 96, it’s a bit the same match as in the semi-final on Saturday against Lorenzo Sonego (1 meter 91) which was offered to Wawrinka. The problem to be solved was to take the very good opposing service, often flashed at more than 200 km/h. In addition, unlike the Italian, the Australian has in the racket, especially in his forehand, enough to support the exchange and hurt.
He also quickly took the service of Wawrinka in the first set to lead 2-1 then 3-1. But the winner of three Grand Slams knows how to be patient and, at 4-5, he took advantage of a small drop from Popyrin on his first ball to come back to 5-5. Both men then headed for a tie-break in which the slightly less confident Australian made more mistakes, allowing the highly focused “Stan The Man” to win 7- 5 after 53 minutes of play.
Hurt, but present
It was thought then that the big Australian had taken a small blow behind the ears. Nay. In the second set, he served first to lead, then took the game from Wawrinka and quickly found himself in front at 3-0. Fast, powerful and precise, he left no break point for his opponent and, after 43 minutes, won the set 6-3.
None of that in the last inning. The Vaudois certainly lost his entry service, but the Australian, more feverish, could not confirm and was broken in turn. Before serving while trailing 1-2, Popyrin requested a medical time-out to have his right thigh strapped and appeared to suffer in his movements.
But nothing showed up on the scoreboard thanks to his serve and his ability to shorten the rally. So much so that he saved a break point at 2-3 and managed to take Wawrinka’s serve at 4-4. He then only had to win his last serve to win, which he did on his first match point.
Tears of joy
Even if he lost, the game presented by Wawrinka this week in Croatia was impressive and can give hope to see him again soon in the last match of a tournament.
After the match, he addressed the audience in tears: “I know it’s so stupid to cry, but I love this sport so much,” he said. You make it so special. Incredible week. With a bit of luck, I might come back. Thank you for your encouragement, thank you for being here. Hopefully I’ll see you next year.” We hope so.
Yves Desplands has been a journalist and editor at Sport-Center since 2015. He had held the same position for the sports section of Le Matin since 1999. From 1994 to 1999, he covered ice hockey and motocross for this daily. More informations
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