Wawrinka targets London finale after winning Cincinnati opener
The Swiss player defeated 122nd-ranked American teenager Jared Donaldson 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
CINCINNATI, Aug 17, 2016 (AFP) - Stan Wawrinka polished off a two-day victory to reach the third round of the rain-plagued ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters on Wednesday as the Swiss takes aim at a return to the year-end season finals in London.
The second seed at the last major tune-up prior to the US Open defeated 122nd-ranked American teenager Jared Donaldson 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The match began Tuesday night but was held up several times due to rain before being cancelled late in the evening.
The victory gives the two-time Grand Slam champion fresh motivation heading into the final third of the ATP campaign.
"I really want to qualify for London (eight-man World Tour Finals)," Wawrinka said. "That s my main goal for the rest of the season.
"I have to stay inside the top eight," added the world number four, who is bidding for a fourth straight London appearance.
Wawrinka said that advancing in steamy Cincinnati was a challenge against rising opponent Donaldson.
"It was two different matches between last night and today. It was a very difficult first match, he played well, and very aggressive.
"It was difficult to play in the heat today, I m happy to take a win after not playing for two weeks," the Swiss said, after a back injury ruled him out of the Olympics.
"I m very happy to win this match. I had to get my bearings on court again."
Japan s fifth seed Kei Nishikori joined Wawrinka in the third round with a 6-3, 6-2 defeat of experienced Mikhail Youzhny. Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, seeded seventh, beat American Reilly Opelka 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/3).
Eighth seed Dominic Thiem won his first match since late June at Wimbledon, defeating Australian John Millman 7-5, 6-1.
As first-round play got caught up after days of wet weather, Juan Monaco knocked out Los Cabos title-winner Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 6-4; France s Nicolas Mahut beat 15th seed Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6 (7/2), 2-6, 6-3.
In the women s draw, third seed and 2015 finalist Simona Halep started with a 6-3, 6-1 defeat of Annika Beck.
"I played pretty well today. I felt the game and the balls were a little bit heavier because of the rain and the humidity. But it was good for me," Halep said.
"I was a little bit nervous before the match because I had two weeks without matches. The first match of the tournament is tough. Now I m more relaxed and I m looking already forward to the next one."
US Open finalist Roberta Vinci stopped Tsvetana Pironkova 7-5, 6-3. Hungarian Timea Babos upset Swiss 13th seed Belinda Bencic 7-5, 6-2.
