The former world No.3, now 361st at ATP – he has just lost a whopping 115 places in one week!
--, had lost as soon as he entered the running in the only two tournaments he had played this year, in Marbella then Monte-Carlo.
It was with a big ovation that the center court of Rome welcomed the return to victory of the Swiss, against the semi-finalist of the last edition, Opelka, seeded N.14, in 2h05.
Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam winner (Australian Open 2014, Roland-Garros 2015, US Open 2016), had ended his 2021 year after an elimination in the first round in Doha in March.
He treated during these long months an injury to the left foot that he had been dragging since 2019.
The last victory for the Swiss, who will meet Serbian Laslo Djere (58th) in the second round in Rome, dates back to the first round of the Australian Open in February 2021.
© 2022 AFP