Wawrinka Returns to Basel for ATP Swiss Indoors

BASSEL, Switzerland (AP) — The ATP Swiss Indoors Basel continues on Tuesday with Day 2 matches, featuring Swiss tennis star Stan Wawrinka. At 40, Wawrinka is not showing signs of retirement but acknowledges that opportunities to see him play are becoming rare.

The atmosphere is expected to be electric as fans anticipate his first-round match against Miomir Kecmanovic. Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, expressed in recent interviews his love for this tournament and his desire to perform well in front of his home crowd.

“I may not have the stamina for deep runs like before, but winning even one match here means a lot to me,” Wawrinka said.

Kecmanovic, ranked 52nd in the world, has been favored to win with a 61% chance according to predictive models. His recent performance hasn’t been stellar, sitting at 21-25 for the year. This will be their second meeting, with Wawrinka victorious during their 2023 encounter.

“I’ll make him work hard for it,” Wawrinka added, referring to Kecmanovic’s promising baseline game.

In another notable matchup, 19-year-old Joao Fonseca faces Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Fonseca has shown promise early in his career, but Mpetshi Perricard is hoping to regain form as he enters the tournament unseeded.

The match schedule also features players like Ben Shelton and Denis Shapovalov, both of whom have shown flashes of brilliance this season. Shelton, known for his lefty power game, is expected to excel in indoor conditions.

“I thrive in fast indoor courts,” Shelton said, looking forward to the competition.

The first match between Wawrinka and Kecmanovic is set to start at 1:10 PM ET.