Wawrinka: in the absence of ATP tournaments, good are Challenger

Stan Wawrinka, who was number three in the world (now he is 17th) and winner of three Grand Slams, He has no problem in downgrading his cache and the category of tournaments he plays while waiting for the ATP clay season to arrive, since he gave up the American hard court mini-tour (Cincinnati and US Open). The Swiss participates this week in the Prague Challenger with an invitation and as the first favorite, and this Monday he beat Russian Roman Safiulin, who put him in trouble in the second set (6-1, 4-6 and 6-1). In the second round they will face the German Oscar Otte.

Top players usually participate in this type of event when they need it to regain shape after injury and earn points that will reposition them in the ranking. Wawrinka did it in the 2009 and 2010 Lugano races, lifting the trophy both times. In Prague there are tennis players of a certain level such as Kohlschreiber, Vesely, Jaziri, Herbert, Laaksonen and the Spanish Kuhn and Menendez, already eliminated.

Alcaraz falls in Todi

The one who is also playing hard these days in Challengers, but because his age advises him, is Carlos Alcaraz, who at 17 has already won an ATP match (against Ramos in Rio this year) and who could not pass the first round in Todi (Italy) this Monday. The local Gian Marco Moroni beat him (6-3 and 6-2). In the transalpine event are Roberto Carballés (he is measured this Tuesday with Rodionov), seed number one, Berbabé Zapata (Marcora), Mario Vilella, who won by 6-3 and 7-6 (3) against Arnaboldi and will face in second round to Frenchman Hoang, and Marco Cecchinato (favorite # 2).