Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka celebrates after beating Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov 6-1, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 in their men's singles first round match on the first day of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 2, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Glyn KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE
Three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka and girlfriend Donna Vekic defied the odds to make the Wimbledon second round Monday with the Swiss veteran describing it “as a good day at the office”.
Wawrinka, 33, stunned Bulgarian sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov 1-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 on Centre Court.
Just hours earlier on Court One, 22-year-old Vekic had shocked fourth seeded US Open champion Sloane Stephens 6-1, 6-3.
“I think it was a good day for us at the office, that’s for sure,” said Wawrinka, a former Australian Open, US Open and Roland Garros champion.
“It was great match from her. I watched it from home before coming back for my match.
“For sure it was a big win for her. She’s playing well on grass. It’s been good for us today.”
Wawrinka, whose ranking has slumped to 225 after knee surgery, had lost his last four matches against Dimitrov, a semi-finalist in 2014.
But at the same tournament where he played what proved to be his last match of 2017, the 33-year-old was rejuvenated on Monday.
“It’s a great feeling to win like this on Centre Court,” added Wawrinka, twice a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon.
“I was moving well and feeling good.
“I knew it would be tough to beat a player like Grigor so my goal was to fight and focus.”
Wawrinka will next face Italian qualifier Thomas Fabbiano.
Twelve months ago, Vekic was in tears after losing a second round thriller 10-8 in the final set to Britain’s Johanna Konta.
But on Monday, she celebrated her first ever win over a top-five player.
“I finally got through a match like that,” Vekic told the WTA.
“The last couple of times I played against top players I was playing good, but I would still lose. My team were always saying it’s gonna come and I’m happy it was today.”
As well as Konta last year, at Wimbledon in 2016 Vekic was drawn against another top 10 player in five-time champion Venus Williams.
“Playing Wimbledon is special, getting to play on Court One is even more special and I’m happy I’ve got some good memories out of it,” said Vekic who now faces Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson.
For 27-year-old Dimitrov, Monday was another setback after reaching only the second round at Queen’s in the run-up to Wimbledon.
His defeat on Monday was the first time he had lost in the opening round at Wimbledon since 2009 which was also his debut year.
“I don’t want to say it’s unacceptable. Stan is an incredible player. I’m friends with him off the court,” said Dimitrov.
“For sure, I wish him all the best that week. It’s hard to come back after injuries, he’s hungry, more determined, all that.
“But still it’s hard for me to just accept losing, period. Especially at an event like this that I’ve done so well in the past. I’ve beaten big names on that Centre Court, played tough matches against big players.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow.”
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