Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka beat Hungary’s Zsombor Piros 6-7 (7/4), 6-2, 6-0 in the second qualifying round of the ATP 250 tournament in Metz on Monday to move into the main draw.
The former world No.3, now ranked 284th in the world, overcame a first-set tiebreak loss before dominating the second set brilliantly 6-2 to wrap up a lopsided 6-0 third.
With this victory, the three-time Grand Slam winner (Australian Open 2014, Roland-Garros 2015, US Open 2016) earned himself the right to face Portugal’s Joao Sousa (55th) with his sights set on a second round. No. 1 seed of the tournament, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev (eliminated from the first round).
Wawrinka, 37, turned pro twenty years ago, remained on the losing end with a US Open first-round exit to France’s Corentin Moutet in late August. He has not won on the main circuit since the first round of the Queen’s Tournament last June.
In the other qualifiers, France’s Grégoire Barrère (234th) also earned his main draw berth by knocking out Hungary’s Márton Fucsovics (7-5, 6-1) while compatriot Quentin Halys (86th) lost to Evan Furness ( 208th). ) 6-3, 6-4 in a French-French duel.
Barrère will face Germany’s Oscar Otte (52nd) in the first round while Furness will face Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik (44th).
The last qualification ticket was taken by the Belgian Zizou Bergs (134th), who eliminated the Dutchman Gies Brouwer in three sets with 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. His opponent in the first round will be Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, the tournament’s number 5.
