Stan Wawrinka pleased to win ‘big battle’ against Frances Tiafoe as Kyle Edmund extends winning run

ATP Tour
Stan Wawrinka

Stan Wawrinka admits “there is a lot to improve” after battling past Frances Tiafoe in the first round of the Mexican Open while Kyle Edmund continued his unbeaten streak.

Three-time Grand Slam winner Wawrinka required two hours and 45 minutes to get the job done, winning 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-1).

One break of serve was enough to earn the third seed the opening set and after no breaks in the second, Tiafoe drew level by edging the tie-breaker.

There were once again no breaks in the decider, but Wawrinka was the man in charge as Tiafoe was forced to save one match point in game 10 and three more in game 12.

And so it went to another tie-breaker, but this time the Swiss dominated proceedings.

“It was a big battle in the first round. Last year we also played a big match in Basel,” Wawrinka told TennisTV. “I had a lot of opportunities in the third set and I should have taken them. I’m happy with the win, that’s the most important.

“There is a lot to improve, for sure, but in the first round it is never easy to play your best.”

Meanwhile, the unseeded Kyle Edmund made it six wins in a row as he beat Feliciano Lopez in his opening match.

Fresh from winning the New York Open, British No 1 Edmund brushed aside the Spaniard 6-4, 6-1 to set up a last-16 clash against either Alex Bolt from Australia or Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.

His fellow Brit Cameron Norrie crashed out though as the wildcard lost 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino while Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic beat Alex de Minaur from Australia 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

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Kyle Edmund Stan Wawrinka

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