For his very first match since announcing that he will retire at Roland-Garros (May 22-June 5), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (254th in the world) faced Marin Cilic (22nd) at the end of the program on Monday.

But Fabio Fognini (32nd) took 2h29 to dismiss Arthur Rinderknech (59th) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, then Wawrinka (236th) resisted 2h07 before losing to Alexander Bublik (36th) 3- 6, 7-5, 6-2, Jannik Sinner (12th), finally, took 2h27 to get rid of Borna Coric (198th) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

So much so that Tsonga and Cilic entered the Rainier III court between dogs and wolves under the spotlight, and only started their duel at 7:15 p.m.

A year to treat a foot that had been suffering since 2019 and Wawrinka resumed competition.

After an elimination in the first round at the Challenger tournament (secondary circuit) in Marbella at the end of March against Elias Ymer (131st), the 37-year-old Swiss lost again in the first round but by delivering a fight of a much better level against Bublik .

"I was not far (from winning). In the second set, I had real opportunities, I could have won," he regretted.

The Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka, during his match against the Kazakh Alexander Bublik, on April 11, 2022 in the 1st round of the Masters 1000 of Monte-Carlo Valery HACHE AFP

"Unpredictable"

The Kazakh won the match, but there was not a 200 place gap between the two players, because the Swiss recalled for almost two sets that he had been N.3 at the ATP and lifted three trophies Grand Slam in his career.

"I am aware that I need a lot of training, I have to work on my tennis and my physical condition", he however underlined.

During two sets, the meeting was spectacular, "Stan the Man" responding magnificently to the sometimes surprising blows of his opponent who, for example, served with the spoon or managed a winning drop shot on his opponent's second service ball.

"Bublik has become much more solid in his game and his behavior. He is unpredictable, but he has a line of conduct", analyzed the Swiss.

The Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka congratulates the Kazakh Alexander Bublik, after his victory, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, on April 11, 2022 in the 1st round of the Masters 1000 of Monte-Carlo Valery HACHE AFP

From the end of the second round, the Kazakh gradually took over.

Disappointed with the defeat, Wawrinka nevertheless drew a positive assessment of his performance: "It's much better than what I thought I could do today", he analyzed, considering that he was still "far" from his objectives in term of performance, but "in the right direction".

Adrenaline and stress

In addition to the satisfaction of progressing from a tennis point of view, the Swiss rediscovered with delight the flavor of the big tournaments, the emotions they provide and which he had "missed so much".

"I did all this rehabilitation for a year just to come back to a court like this, to be in a tournament like this with the public, the atmosphere, the emotions, the adrenaline and the stress at the same time. ... That's what I play for, and today was very nice," he admitted.

However, in the immediate future, Wawrinka has no specific plan for the future except that he is aiming for Roland-Garros (May 22-June 5) for which he said he asked for a wild card.

Serbian Novak Djokovic in his last match, February 24, 2022 in Dubai Karim SAHIB AFP / Archives

Tuesday, the third day of the Monegasque tournament will be marked by the entry into contention, in the second round, of the world No.1 Novak Djokovic who is thirsty for competition.

He has only been able to play three games since the start of the season, in Dubai, due to his refusal to be vaccinated against covid.

He will be opposed to the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich (46th).

The French Benjamin Bonzi (63rd), eliminated in qualifying, was drafted thanks to the package of the Spaniard Roberto Bautista and will face Daniel Evans (27th), semi-finalist last year on Tuesday.

The day will end with a clash between the last two winners of the tournament, the Italian Fabio Fognini (2019) and the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (2021).

© 2022 AFP