Wawrinka Falls To Cecchinato At Monte Carlo Masters

AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez

Wawrinka Falls To Cecchinato At Monte Carlo Masters

As they say, it ain’t over til it’s over!

The three-time Grand Slam champion, Stan Wawrinka, went down against Marco Cecchinato at the Monte Carlo Masters. If you had watched the first set, you must have thought that Stan won convincingly, handing the Italian a decisive loss. After eight games, Marco Cecchinato at 0-6, 0-2, was still aiming to get on the scoreboard.

By his own admission, the 26-year-old Cecchinato had started the match very badly, playing tense. At 0-6, 0-2 down, he was thinking about a double-bagel loss; so he began to raise his level with his serve and forehand.

Cecchinato said “I started to play better because every point I was focused on my game. Then I won an unbelievable match because it was also 0-6, 4-5 and serve for Stan.” It is amazing what the fear of a 6-0, 6-0 loss can do! Wawrinka serving for the match at 6-0, 5-3, and losing that game, was unable to regroup. At the same time, Cecchinato’s ability to erase the thought of an embarrassing start,

Battled to find a way back into the match.

According to ATP stats, Cecchinato won just five service points in the first set, managing to capture only nine per cent (1/11) of his second-serve points; but in the second and third sets, he raised that number to 65 per cent.

Of course, we should remember that Marco Cecchinato reached the semifinals of Roland Garros, last year, losing to Dominic Thiem. On the way he beat Novak Djokovic, Pablo Carreno Busta and David Goffin, all higher ranked players with serious clay court experience.

Cecchinato, seeded 11, continues to grow his reputation as a serious clay-courter. The Italian has lifted three ATP Tour titles on clay in the past 12 months. He will face Guido Pella, in the next round, for a spot in the last eight.

Prior to his unexpected defeat, Stan Wawrinka remembered the time he had lifted the trophy in Monaco by defeating his close friend, Roger Federer. “This has always been one of the best tournaments, and we like Monte-Carlo very much. And the fact of actually having won here is very special for me.”

There is always the next one! We look forward to seeing the 2015 Champion, Stan, compete in Roland Garros.

To read more see:

Cecchinato Completes Comeback, Stuns Wawrinka In Monte-Carlo

After a Perfect Set, Stan Wawarinka Crumbles Against Marco Cecchinato

Stan Wawrinka Crashes Out of Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2019

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