Wawrinka, Coric Advance to Challenger Semi-finals in Aix-en-Provence

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France (May 2, 2025) — Three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka defeated Nishesh Basavareddy 7-6(8), 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the Aix-en-Provence Challenger on Friday. The 40-year-old Swiss player ended Basavareddy’s hopes on the American’s 20th birthday, earning a spot in the last four of a tournament for the first time since last October.

Wawrinka, a wild card entry, faced a challenging first set where he held a set point at 5-4 but was pushed to a tie-break. He successfully saved two set points before clinching the set. The match statistics showed Wawrinka winning 80 percent of his first-serve points, while Basavareddy managed 66 percent, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Borna Coric also advanced to the semi-finals, defeating his opponent 7-5, 6-4, continuing his strong performance on the Challenger circuit. Coric expressed satisfaction with his gameplay, stating, “I thought this was the best match I’ve played on clay so far this year. I was really happy with my performance.” He is aiming for a season-leading fourth title and highlighted the importance of recovery after a long match.

As the anticipation builds for a potential final between Wawrinka and Coric, Wawrinka must first overcome Coric’s fellow countryman, while Coric will face Peruvian qualifier Buse. Buse, however, suffered a setback as he was forced to retire due to a right hip injury while leading 7-6(4), 2-3 against his opponent. Gojo won that match decisively with a score of 6-2, 6-3.

Meanwhile, in Estoril, Portugal, the ATP Challenger Tour is seeing a rare occurrence with two Top 50 players set to face off in the semi-finals. Michael Michelsen reached this stage with a commanding 6-3, 6-4 victory and will meet Miomir Kecmanovic, who dispatched home favorite 6-0, 6-7(5), 6-4.

With spectators filling the stands, the quarter-finals in Estoril delivered exciting moments as players vie for valuable points and titles in the ATP Challenger series.