Stan Wawrinka made a successful begin on the Rennes Challenger. The Swiss performed properly on an indoor court docket and ousted the 2012 champion Kenny De Schepper 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 18 minutes.
The 40-year-old entered his first event in a months and supplied his thirteenth Challenger victory of the season. Stan struggled to seek out the primary serve. Nonetheless, he dropped solely 12 factors in ten service video games and defended the one break level supplied to his opponent.
The house participant struggled behind the second serve and received damaged two occasions from seven possibilities introduced to the three-time Main champion.
Proper to it in Rennes 🫡@stanwawrinka takes out 2012 champion de Schepper 6-4, 6-4 🔜 R2!#ATPChallenger | @OpenBlotRennes pic.twitter.com/h7kQAbamSr
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 9, 2025
A left-hander denied a break level within the first recreation of the match with a strong serve and averted an early setback. Wawrinka made one other push on the return at 2-2 and handed his rival with a forehand crosscourt winner that despatched him in entrance.
The veteran closed the sixth recreation with a volley winner and cemented the benefit. De Schepper denied a set level at 3-5 with a service winner and prolonged the battle.
Nonetheless, Stan held at love at 5-4 with a compelled error, wrapping up the primary a part of the duel in 39 minutes. The Frenchman served higher within the first half of the second set and earned a break likelihood within the second recreation.
Stan Wawrinka, Rennes Challenger 2025© Stream screenshot
The Swiss denied it with a compelled error and held for 1-1. Wawrinka held at love within the sixth recreation with an unreturned serve and made a push on the return within the subsequent one. Kenny saved a break level with an unreturned serve and remained on the constructive aspect.
The Swiss left that likelihood behind and locked the outcome at 4-4 with a cracking backhand down the road winner. De Schepper misplaced the bottom on serve in recreation 9, spraying a double fault and shedding serve at love.
Wawrinka served for the win at 5-4 and landed a artful volley winner on the web, rattling off 11 factors and transferring excessive in model.
