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Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka’s bid to make a successful return to the ATP World Tour took another hit as he fell in the first round of the Sofia Open in Bulgaria on Monday. The Swiss squandered a one-set lead to go down 6-3, 6-7(5), 4-6 to World No. 56 Marius Copil.
The Swiss put up good numbers on his serve, producing 13 aces and winning 86% of his first serve points. However, his inability to earn a single break point in the decider cost him dearly as the Romanian carved out an early break of service to get the win.
Wawrinka has had to battle a long-drawn knee injury and then a back injury for the past two seasons. He reached the quarter-finals in Doha this year before losing to Milos Raonic in four tie-breaks in the second round of the Australian Open.
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World No. 45 Matthew Ebden also had to work hard to register a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(5) victory over the 17-year-old Andrian Andreev of Bulgaria.
Tsonga works hard in Montpellier
Over at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga stormed back from a set down to edge his spirited 20-year-old compatriot Ugo Humbert 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 in 2 hours 23 minutes.
The former Australian Open runner-up's poor break point conversion (1/9) was a reason why he faced some serious trouble early on in this first round encounter. Tsonga thus set up a blockbuster all-French second round clash with the fourth seed Gilles Simon.
39-year-old Ivo Karlovic fell in a deciding set tie-break for the third time this year, losing 6-7(3), 7-6(5), 6-7(5) to Marcel Granollers of Spain.
India's doubles ace Leander Paes also progressed at this ATP 250 hardcourt event in partnership with Benoit Paire. The Indo-French combine blew away Jonathan Eysseric and Gilles Simon 6-4, 6-2.
Jaziri, Pella victorious in Cordoba
At the only clay court event of the week -- the Cordoba Open, sixth seed Malek Jaziri was stretched to three sets by Argentine veteran Carlos Berlocq before he pulled off a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4) win.
Eighth seed Guido Pella had it much easier, breezing past Paolo Lorenzi 6-1, 6-3 in just 1 hour 13 minutes.
