Stan Wawrinka marked another memorable moment in his farewell season on Wednesday at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam, where he defeated 17-year-old Dutch lucky loser Thijs Boogaard in the first round.
The 40-year-old Swiss star, who captured the ATP 500 title in 2015, downed Boogaard 6-4, 6-3 in a clash spanning more than two decades in age difference. The 23 years and 3 months separating Wawrinka and Boogaard now ranks as the second-largest age gap in ATP Tour and Grand Slam history, trailing only Dominic Thiem’s 2011 win over Thomas Muster by two years and eight months.
Next up, Wawrinka will face top seed and two-time defending finalist Alex de Minaur, promising another high-stakes encounter as the former No. 3 player in the PIF ATP Rankings continues his swan song on Tour.
“He’s a tough player,” Wawrinka said of de Minaur, who leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 1-0. “Especially in these conditions, it’s going to be difficult to generate something. But I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’ve been playing some good matches against top players, so I’m always trying to push myself.”
Wawrinka made headlines at the Australian Open last month by becoming the oldest man to reach the third round of the hard-court major since Ken Rosewall.
Alex de Minaur was handed a challenge in the form of heavy-hitting Arthur Fils on Tuesday, but he passed the test with a composed 7-6(3), 6-2 victory.
Earlier, seventh seed Tallon Griekspoor delighted his home crowd with a classy 6-4, 6-4 win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. With his 11th victory in Rotterdam, the 29-year-old tied Tom Okker for the fourth-most among Dutchmen in tournament history.
Griekspoor saved all six break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats, against Mpetshi Perricard and fired 10 aces. He will next meet Quentin Halys, who rallied past 18-year-old home qualifier Mees Rottgering 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 in one hour, 54 minutes.
Jan-Lennard Struff surged past French qualifier Hugo Grenier 6-0, 6-4 in just 64 minutes to improve to 2-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. It marked Struff’s second tour-level win of the season after defeating Juan Pablo Varillas en route to Germany’s 4-0 Davis Cup victory over Peru. Struff awaits Hubert Hurkacz or third seed Alexander Bublik in the second round.
