Tennis: Wawrinka, Raonic advance in India

Defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka and Milos Raonic moved into the quarter-finals of the ATP Chennai Open

CHENNAI: Defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka and rising star Milos Raonic moved into the quarter-finals of the ATP Chennai Open in contrasting styles. Wawrinka, the third-seeded Swiss, fought back to overcome valiant Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in a tense battle that lasted over two hours. Fourth-seed Raonic of Canada brushed aside Romanian Victor Hanescu 6-1, 6-4 in just over an hour. Wawrinka was a relieved man after his hard-fought win. “It’s never easy to start the season with a win, so I’m happy to be through to the quarter-finals,” he said. “I played a good game and am pleased that I fought back well.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2012.