Stan Wawrinka opened his 2020 season with a straight-sets win over Frenchman Jeremy Chardy on Tuesday to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP event in Doha.
The three-time Grand Slam champion, the top seed in Qatar, eased to a 6-3, 6-4 victory to set up a last-eight tie against Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene.
The 34-year-old battled back from a break down in the second set to win in under an hour and a half.
The Swiss star was 66th in the ATP rankings 12 months ago after struggling with knee injuries, but a solid 2019 campaign has seen him rise to world number 15.
“I’m happy to still be playing at a good level,” he told atptour.com after winning his first competitive match since a last-16 loss to Rafael Nadal at the Paris Masters last October.
“I’m happy to be here for another year and hopefully [it will be] a good one for me.”
Wawrinka is playing the tournament for only the second time since a 2008 final defeat by Andy Murray, having lost to Roberto Bautista Agut in last year’s quarter-finals.
Results
1st rd
Marton Fucsovics (HUN) bt Frances Tiafoe (USA x8) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
Cem Ilkel (TUR) bt Ricardas Berankis (LTU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
Laslo Djere (SRB x5) bt Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) bt Marco Cecchinato (ITA) 6-3, 6-4
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) bt Malek Jaziri (TUN) 6-0, 6-3
2nd rd
Stan Wawrinka (SUI x1) bt Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-3, 6-4
Aljaz Bedene (SLO) bt Alexander Bublik (KAZ) 6-3, 7-5
Buy an annual Scroll Membership to support independent journalism and get special benefits.
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!