Stan Wawrinka is into his first ATP semi-final since July 2023 after beating Andrey Rublev at the Stockholm Open.
The evergreen three-time Grand Slam champion has found his form in the Swedish capital and has picked up some impressive wins throughout the week.
Wawrinka, now ranked outside the top 200, will also compete for the chance to reach his first final on the ATP Tour since the Croatia Open in 2023.
Should emerge victorious, the former World number three would be just one match away from claiming his first title since the 2017 Geneva Open.
Stan Wawrinka rolls back the years with tremendous display against Andrey Rublev in Stockholm
Stan Wawrinka and Andrey Rublev produced a very even contest at the Stockholm Open.
It came down to who would win the bigger points, and that was the three-time Grand Slam champion, who claimed both sets on a tiebreak by seven points to five.
He recorded 14 aces in the win and at 39 years of age, Wawrinka is the third oldest player to reach an ATP semi-final since 1990, after Jimmy Connors and Ivo Karlovic.
“The key was to stay focused and positive with myself,” said Wawrinka post-match “Andrey is such an amazing player, but I was feeling good on the court, I was moving well.
“I could start to dictate a little bit, and with so much support from the crowd, it is easier to fight on the court. I cannot change my age, but most important for me is that when I enter the court, I always try to fight.”
Who is Stan Wawrinka’s next opponent?
Wawrinka will battle Tommy Paul for a spot in the Stockholm Open final.
The American defeated the Serbian pair of Laslo Djere and Miomir Kecmanović in successive matches to reach the last four.
The pair have played just twice before, and have one victory each. Wawrinka won their battle at the Paris Masters in 2020, before Paul defeated the veteran at Queen’s in 2022.
Ahead of their next clash, Wawrinka will aim to produce another vintage performance to keep his hopes of a 17th career title alive.
“I cannot change my age, but most important for me is that when I enter the court, I always try to fight,” he added. “I try to improve and enjoy what I am doing.
“The reason I keep going is to play matches like this, with so many people giving me good energy on the court, and I’m super happy to have the chance to play one more match.”
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