By Erik Gudris | Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Donald Young once again found success in Washington, DC. with a three set win over Stan Wawrinka.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
If fans of Stan Wawrinka were hoping for an acceleration in momentum in his comeback this summer, they will have to wait another week. Instead, it's Donald Young who once again is enjoying success at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C.
Young, currently ranked 234 and who had to qualify for this week's event, defeated the current No. 198 Wawrinka 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(3) in their rain postponed opening round match from Monday.
While the 33-year-old Wawrinka, at times showed some of the vintage form that earned him three major titles, he also struggled to put away winners in the key moments. For Young, a two time semifinalist in D.C., the win is a much needed confidence boost for the 29-year-old American who had only won two main draw matches prior all year.
Young broke Wawrinka right away in the first set and held on to his advantage. The three time major winner struggled to find any consistency. However, there was this vintage backhand moment late in the set.
Young took the set 6-4.
A low energy second set ensued as neither player made inroads into the other’s service game. Wawrinka started to play better, but did little to pressure Young in his service games. After a series of love holds from both late in the set, a tiebreak was needed.
Late in the tiebreak, Young hit a wide serve for an ace that would have given him match point. But Hawk-eye showed the serve wide. Young went on to double fault and soon Wawrinka managed to claim the breaker 7-6(5).
As the final set ensued, the local crowd become more vocal in their support of Young. Wawrinka responded by raising his level and soon, he saw his first break pobts of the night at 3-all, 15-40.
But Wawrinka’s trusted backhand failed to produce winners on both occasions as Young soon held for 4-all.
Both men produced several fine winners down the stretch as one last tiebreak was needed to decide the close contest. Young once again played within himself and produced winners, include a solid volley winner up at net, when needed. But Wawrinka again faltered with several untimely errors down the stretch that soon gave Young his first match point.
A final misfired backhand from Wawrinka ended the night in Young’s favor as he celebrated the three set win.
For Wawrinka, he now must go on to Toronto next week and play qualifying since he was not granted a wildcard into the main draw. Young will hope to continue his own summer momentum when he next faces Kei Nishikori in the next round.