Stan Wawrinka made a winning start at the Rennes Challenger. The Swiss played well on an indoor court 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 tournament in a months and provided his 13th Challenger victory of the season. Stan struggled to find the first serve. However, he dropped only 12 points in ten service games and defended the only break point offered to his opponent.
The home player struggled behind the second serve and got broken two times from seven chances presented to the three-time Major champion.
A left-hander denied a break point in the first game of the match with a powerful serve and avoided an early setback. Wawrinka made another push on the return at 2-2 and passed his rival with a forehand crosscourt winner that sent him in front.
The veteran closed the sixth game with a volley winner and cemented the advantage. De Schepper denied a set point at 3-5 with a service winner and extended the battle.
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However, Stan held at love at 5-4 with a forced error, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 39 minutes. The Frenchman served better in the first half of the second set and earned a break chance in the second game.
The Swiss denied it with a forced error and held for 1-1. Wawrinka held at love in the sixth game with an unreturned serve and made a push on the return in the next one. Kenny saved a break point with an unreturned serve and remained on the positive side.
The Swiss left that chance behind and locked the result at 4-4 with a cracking backhand down the line winner. De Schepper lost the ground on serve in game nine, spraying a double fault and losing serve at love.
Wawrinka served for the win at 5-4 and landed a crafty volley winner at the net, rattling off 11 points and moving over the top in style.
