Third seed Stanislas Wawrinka advanced into the third round of the Paris Masters courtesy of straight sets win over Austrian prospect Dominic Thiem.
The Australian Open champion, who has already qualified for the season-ending WTA World Tour Finals, emerged the better of two powerful one-handed backhanders.
Thiem fought back from a 2-4 deficit in the tie-break, but could not convert a set point opportunity at 6-5, allowing the third seed to seal a 6-4 7-6 (8-6) win in one hour and 36 minutes .
Wawrinka came into Wednesday’s match-up with the 21-year-old on the back of three first round losses. Friday’s last 16 tie with 14th seed South African Kevin Anderson is just the first of a tight schedule for the Swiss with the Davis Cup final against the French squad on the card.
Wawrinka said: I’m still trying to regain confidence. I felt like I had been practicing well and have been able to train normally so I was just missing a few match wins really. I never panicked (after losing three straight sets).
“I’m here to go as far as I can. It’s a busy schedule but I don’t feel much pressure, unlike last year [when he was vying for a spot in London].
Stanislas Wawrinka Says he is Regaining Confidence Following Three First Round Losses. Image: Getty.
“I’m hoping to accomplish big things before Lille (the Davis Cup final).”
Canada’s Milos Raonic maintained his push for a maiden qualification for the ATP World Tour Finals by outlasting qualifier Jack Sock to advance.
The seventh seed topped a 6-3 5-7 7-6(4) tussle with Sock- his sixth straight win over the American. Raonic is currently tenth in the Race to London.
“I know what I need to do (to qualify for the ATP Tour Finals), but it’s too dependent on other guys, so I’m just very much focused on myself,” Raonic noted. “It’s not like if I do well I have a safe spot.”
“I felt like I did a good job in that tie-break. I got ahead one point [at 2-1 in the tie-break] and then just really took care of my service points.”
Raonic meets Roberto Bautista Agut in the third round, following the 11th seed’s win over 2007 semi-finalist Richard Gasquet. The Spaniard sealed a 6-4 6-2 win over Gasquet to complete his 45th win of the year.
Fourth seed David Ferrer retained hopes for a final showdown appearance with a 6-3 2-6 6-3 win over David Goffin in a second round match he described as “very tough.”
More to follow…
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