Stan Wawrinka stood two factors away from writing extra historical past on the ATP 250 occasion in Bucharest. The 40-year-old confronted Pedro Martinez within the second spherical and fell 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in two hours and 39 minutes.
Wawrinka reached a deuce on the return whereas main 6-4 5-4. Nonetheless the Spaniard held and grabbed a late break earlier than dominating the decider. Thus, Stan missed an opportunity to grow to be the primary 40-year-old participant within the clay-court ATP quarter-final since Ken Rosewall in 1977!
Tout proche de la victoire, Stan Wawrinka 🇨🇭 s’incline finalement en 3 units (4-6, 7-5, 6-2) face à Pedro Martinez 🇪🇸 en 1/8 de finale à Bucarest 🇷🇴. ❌
Le Suisse va désormais prendre la path de Monte-Carlo 🇲🇨. 🔜pic.twitter.com/fDfI4fbQjf
— Sport, Set & Discuss (@GameSetAndTalk) April 3, 2025
The veteran prevailed within the first spherical after a marathon for his first ATP win of the season. He made a strong begin in opposition to Martinez however did not convey the win house and advance into the final eight. Pedro took 15 factors greater than Stan.
The Spaniard served at 80% and denied seven of 11 break factors. He stole 46% of the return factors and turned them into six breaks from ten alternatives. They each hit 26 winners. Wawrinka plagued his possibilities after spraying 49 errors, lacking equally from each wings.
Pedro Martinez, Bucharest 2025© Stream screenshot
They stayed neck and neck in service winners and from the baseline, whereas Martinez seized management on the web. The Swiss held after deuces within the first sport of the encounter and offered a break within the fourth sport for a 3-1 benefit.
The Spaniard stepped in on the return in sport seven and drew the rival’s mistake for a break at love. He returned to the optimistic facet and drew the veteran’s mistake within the subsequent one for 4-4. Wawrinka held in sport 9 and made a push on the return within the subsequent one.
Stan Wawrinka, Bucharest 2025© Stream screenshot
Stan created a set level and seized it after a pointy return and the rival’s mistake, wrapping up the opener in 49 minutes. They began the second set with back-to-back breaks. The Swiss netted a forehand within the seventh sport and skilled a break.
He pulled it again within the subsequent one after Martinez’s forehand error, erasing the deficit and bettering his possibilities. Wawrinka produced a fantastic maintain within the ninth sport and reached a deuce on the return within the subsequent one, standing two factors away from victory.
Stan Wawrinka & Pedro Martinez, Bucharest 2025© Stream screenshot
Nonetheless, the Spaniard stored his composure and closed it for 5-5 and extra drama. The 40-year-old missed a routine forehand within the eleventh sport, dropping serve and permitting his opponent to serve for the set. Pedro held at 15 with a service winner, introducing a decider after an hour and 45 minutes.
With a lift on his facet, Pedro began the ultimate set with a break. He missed extra possibilities at 2-0 and denied a break probability in sport six with a artful serve & volley combo. Stan netted a drained forehand within the seventh sport, struggling one other break and falling 5-2 behind.
Martinez served for the win in sport eight and held at 30 with a service winner, transferring excessive and sending the legend packing.
