Stan Wawrinka will still have to wait before winning his 17th title. The Swiss was beaten in the final of the ATP 250 tournament in Umag on Sunday evening by an excellent Alexei Popyrin after a final full of suspense. The Australian won in three sets after being led (6-7, 6-3, 6-4). He won his second title after that obtained in Singapore in 2021.
Badly embarked on this final, Wawrinka had produced a good effort to come back to score in the first set. Led 5-3, the Swiss held behind his serve and forced Popyrin to serve to win the set. At 5-4, the 23-year-old missed and conceded the break on his first break point of the match. In the decisive game, Wawrinka made the difference at 5-5 by pocketing the last two points. We then thought that the 72nd in the world had done the hardest part in this match.
I love this sport so much
But Popyrin did not demobilize. He finally enforced the hierarchy of this final in the last two acts. If he pocketed the second authoritatively, breaking very early (at 1-0), he had to fight in the decisive round. After a break on each side in the first two games, Popyrin and Wawrinka released the horses. At 2-3, the Aussie had to work to save a break point during a very important extension game. At 4-4, he produced his effort to get the service of the Vaudois, before concluding.
“It’s an honor to play someone like Stan in a final. I grew up watching him play, as well as Roger, Rafa and Novak. To play him in the final and beat him…words are not enough not to describe my joy. It’s an incredible feeling,” said Popyrin on the court after his victory.
In tears during the ceremony, Wawrinka, very moved, thanked the public for their support. “I know it’s stupid to cry, but I love this sport so much and you (the public) make it special.”
2023-07-30 23:24:00
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