19 years after his first title, Wawrinka advances to the round of 16 in Umag

At over 40 years old, Wawrinka continues to battle, juggling between the main and secondary circuits, showcasing his unconditional love for the sport. Facing Guillen Meza in the first round of the Umag tournament, the Swiss player delivered a strong performance to secure his spot in the next round.

With 17 winners and a 100% break point conversion rate (6/6), the three-time Grand Slam champion showed no hesitation in winning his match in just over an hour of play (1 hour 13 minutes) against the world No. 244. A symbolic victory, coming 19 years after his first career title, also won in Croatia (2006).

Having fallen out of the top 100 for nearly a year now, Wawrinka is currently ranked 156th in the ATP rankings. He faces a tough challenge next, as he will take on Dzumhur (61st) for a spot in the quarterfinals.