Stan Wawrinka kicked off the final season of his career with a marathon win over Arthur Rinderknech to secure Switzerland an unassailable 2-0 lead over France at the United Cup on Saturday.
The 40-year-old
Wawrinka defeated Rinderknech in a come-from-behind 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5) triumph , joining team-mate Belinda Bencic, who had earlier triumphed 6-2, 6-4 over Leolia Jeanjean.
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Competing in Perth for the first time in his extensive career, Wawrinka battled for nearly three and a half hours to overcome an opponent a decade younger.
The three-time Grand Slam champion clinched victory on his first match point and expressed his delight: “It’s amazing to have such support on my first time here.
“After 20 years on the tour, it’s amazing to finally play here. Today’s match was tough, but I’m happy we could start 2-0.”
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The United Cup, featuring 18 nations, is a mixed-team event that serves as a build-up to the Australian Open this month. Additionally, in Sydney on Saturday, Zhang Zhizhen led China to a 2-1 win over Belgium to commence their tournament.
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