Wawrinka in the Final Against Gaston in Rennes: A Record Within Racket's Reach

A controlled tie-break, then a demonstration: in Rennes, Stan Wawrinka proves he remains an extraordinary competitor. If he wins, he will make history in Challenger tennis.

Seeded No. 2 in Brittany, Wawrinka had shown impeccable form to reach the semifinals, where he faced Patrick Zahraj, ranked 259th in the world. The first set was tight but turned in favor of the Swiss veteran in the tie-break (7-3), before he dominated the second set to win 7-6, 6-2 in 1 hour and 42 minutes.

Still in form past the age of 40, the Vaud native will face Hugo Gaston, the tournament's top seed, in the final.

Wawrinka could become the oldest player in history to win a Challenger title. He is also the second-oldest player to reach a final on the secondary tour, just after Ivo Karlovic (40 years and 8 months).