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SPORTS Tuesday 29 May 2018

Unlike Djokovic, past French Open champ Wawrinka loses early

By HOWARD FENDRICH
AP Tennis Writer
PARIS (AP) — Like Novak
Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka is
a past French Open cham-
pion still working his way
back into form after sur-
gery.
Like Djokovic, Wawrinka is
ranked lower than he has
been in more than a de-
cade. And like Djokovic,
Wawrinka recently reunited
with a coach who helped
guide him to success earlier
in his career.
Both men were in first-round
action at Roland Garros on
Monday, but unlike Djokov-
ic, who won in straight sets,
Wawrinka could not sum-
mon and sustain the sort
of high-level play that has
carried him to major titles
in Paris and elsewhere. Re-
turning to a place where
he won the title in 2015
and made it back to the
final a year ago, Wawrinka
bowed out with a 6-2, 3-6,
4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 loss to 67th-
ranked Guillermo Garcia-
Lopez of Spain.
“I won three Grand Slams
in my career, and I know
what it takes to do it,” said
Wawrinka, who was seed-
ed 23rd and is ranked only
30th, territory unfamiliar to
him since April 2008. “And Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka reacts as he plays Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez during their first round match of the French Open
my goal is to get to my top. tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, Monday, May 28, 2018 in Paris.
Sooner or later, I will.” Associated Press
Wawrinka only recently re- wasn’t the biggest impedi- erio Dutra Silva of Brazil 6-3, who is being coached at for the main stadium: 23-
turned to the tour after miss- ment to success. 6-4, 6-4, quickly recovering Roland Garros by his for- time major champion Ser-
ing three months to rest his “It was more the difficulty of after dropping the opening mer long-time mentor Mar- ena Williams, in her first
left knee, which was oper- continuing to go for it men- two games. ian Vajda. “Not thinking Grand Slam match since
ated on twice last August. tally,” he explained. Since winning the 2016 about the elbow. Playing January 2017, against 70th-
He’s played 11 matches in The owner of one of the French Open to complete pain-free, which is the most ranked Kristyna Plyskova of
2018, going 4-7. prettiest one-handed back- a career Grand Slam and important thing at the mo- the Czech Republic.
As Monday’s match hands in the sport, Wawrin- become the first man in ment.” Bolelli got into the main
stretched to 3½ hours, ka — who is again working nearly a half-century to col- The third past men’s cham- draw as a “lucky loser,”
Wawrinka was hindered by with coach Magnus Nor- lect four consecutive ma- pion on the schedule for someone who was elimi-
the physical strain of play- man — only managed 12 jor trophies, Djokovic has Day 2, No. 1-seeded Rafael nated in qualifying but then
ing in a fifth set for the first winners, compared with taken a step back. He has Nadal, did not complete got a reprieve when anoth-
time since his French Open 35 unforced errors, with not added another major his match, which was sus- er player withdrew from the
semifinal victory over Andy that shot. He finished with championship since, and pended along with several field. Another such entrant
Murray a year ago. But that 72 unforced errors in all, 32 after dealing with right el- others because of rain in drew a lot more fanfare:
more than Garcia-Lopez, bow trouble for more than the evening. 190th-ranked Marco Trun-
who never has been past a year, he finally opted for Beginning his bid for a gelliti of Argentina, who
the fourth round at a major surgery in February. record-extending 11th drove 10 hours from Barce-
tournament. “I had to dig deep,” French Open title, he nev- lona to Paris — sharing a
“There is no frustration. Djokovic said, discussing er quite seemed to be at rental car with his 88-year-
It’s just tough,” said the the work it took to try to re- his absolute best against old grandmother, mother
33-year-old Wawrinka, build his game. 129th-ranked Simone Bolelli and brother — on Sunday
who’s been as high as No. “It has been difficult to of Italy, and while Nadal to accept a berth, then
3 in the rankings. “But I’m face ... the most, say, chal- grabbed the first two sets went out and defeated
on the right way. It was very lenging injury that I have 6-4, 6-3, he was trailing 3-0 Bernard Tomic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4,
close today.” ever had. It’s been a long in the third when action 6-4.
Djokovic — a former No. 1 12 months behind me, but was halted. They’ll resume “We were at home,” Trun-
now ranked 22nd, his worst I’m starting to play better, I Tuesday, when the most gelliti recounted. “We were
spot since 2006 — beat feel like, in the past couple anticipated match of the preparing to go to the
134th-ranked qualifier Rog- of weeks,” said Djokovic, tournament is scheduled beach.”q