Paris (AFP)
Stan Wawrinka ended Saturday the great adventure of Jannik Sinner in Antwerp: the Swiss 34-year-old beat the 18-3 year old Italian 6-3, 6-2 in 1 hour and 5 minutes, and qualified for the final of the Belgian ATP tournament.
Wawrinka (18th in the world) will play Sunday the 30th final of his career on the circuit, where he will compete for his 17th title against the winner of the second semifinal, the former World No.1 Andy Murray (243rd currently) or the French Ugo Humbert (70th).
Sinner, 18 years and 2 months the youngest semifinalist of an ATP tournament since Borna Coric - who had reached the last square in Basel in October 2013 at 17 years, 11 months and 1 week--, yet managed the entry break to lead 2 games to 0.
But Wawrinka was able to pick up immediately, despite a great resistance Sinner 2-1 where he has notably saved a break point with a superb acceleration of long line backhand.
The Swiss then imposed his power to win this first round 6 games to 3.
In the second, he took the opposing service twice to lead 5-1. After a final baroud d'honor Sinner, then author of a white game, he concluded on his service, him also on a white game.
"He's a good guy, with a good frame of mind, and the best future is promised to him," Wawrinka told organizers after his quiet success. He will try Sunday to win his first title since late May 2017 and his coronation on clay in Geneva.
© 2019 AFP