Stan Wawrinka rolled back the years Thursday at the US Open to survive a baseline slugfest against 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Wawrinka, who lifted the trophy at Flushing Meadows in 2016, displayed vintage firepower and pristine fitness as he battled past the Argentine 7-6(6), 6-7(7), 6-3, 6-2 after three hours, 39 minutes. From the start, both players treated fans to a thrilling contest, no better example than in the third game when the 38-year-old Swiss ripped a forehand passing shot to seal the longest rally of the tournament (35 shots).
The three-time major champion stayed consistent from the back of court and despite relinquishing a set point in the second-set tie-break, he maintained focus to improve to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with the Agrentine, whom he also beat in the second round of Wimbledon. Wawrinka broke Etcheverry’s serve to love in the sixth game of the third set before cruising to the finish line, striking 47 winners to set a blockbuster third-round clash against sixth seed Jannik Sinner.
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Making his 16th appearance at the season’s final major, Wawrinka is the oldest man to reach the US Open third round since a 39-year-old Jimmy Connors was a semi-finalist in 1991.
Etcheverry, 24, has enjoyed a breakthrough season. He was a finalist at the ATP 250 events in Santiago and Houston and reached the last eight at Roland Garros. The World No. 34 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings earned his maiden US Open main-draw victory Tuesday when he survived Finn Otto Virtanen in a four-hour, 25-minute five-set battle.
Also in the top quarter of the draw Thursday, 16th seed Cameron Norrie produced a clean-hitting performance to down Yu Hsiou Hsu 7-5, 6-4, 6-4. The Briton will next meet Italian Matteo Arnaldi, who survived #NextGenATP Frenchman Arthur Fils 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-4 in three hours, 55 minutes.
23rd seed Nicolas Jarry ended the hopes of American wild card Alex Michelsen 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the US Open third round for the first time. The Chilean will next face Alex de Minaur after the Aussie cruised past Wu Yibing 6-1, 6-2, 6-1.
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