PRAGUE CHALLENGER. Uncompromising Wawrinka conquers the title

Stan Wawrinka downs Aslan Karatsev 7-6² 6-4 in the final of the Prague Challenger on Saturday after a rather tough week.

Score, report, and key facts

Both players were too good on serve during this set and the fight went to the breaker. Finally, the Swiss won the breaker at 7-2.

Tiebreak

Wawrinka won 4 minibreaks in the 5^th (3-2), 6^th (4-2), 9^th (7-2).

The Swiss was unable to convert any of the 3 conquered break points. He had 3 break points opportunities in the 2^nd game (1-0 15-40, 30-40 and 40-A). On the other side, Aslan wasn’t able to convert 1 break point in the 1^st game (0-0 40-A).

They contested 84 points. Stan was the winner of the set after clinching 8 points more than Karatsev (45-38). Wawrinka dropped 10 points on serve (29-10). In addition, on the other side, Karatsev conceded 16 points on serve (28-16).

Both players managed to hold their service games for the entire set. The only difference was just 1 break that Wawrinka snatched in the 3^rd game (2-1) prior to ultimately conquering the set (6-4).

Stan converted 33% of his break points (1/3). He had 2 break points opportunities in the 3^rd (1-1 30-40 and 40-A) and the 5^th game (3-1 30-40). On the other side, Stan didn’t concede a single break point during this set.

Stan pocketed € 7,520 after reaching this final. He has earned € 18,290 prize money after winning this tournament.

Match Statistics

Wawrinka

Karatsev

7-6² 6-4

81

81

Total points

70

70

37

37

Winners

27

27

46%

46%

Ratio Winners

39%

39%

-- Serve --

10

10

Aces

2

2

2

2

Double Faults

8

8

59%

59%

1st in

48%

48%

90%

90%

1st won

69%

69%

37/41

37/41

1st won

27/39

27/39

48%

48%

2nd won

57%

57%

14/29

14/29

2nd won

24/42

24/42

-- Break Points --

1/6

1/6

Total

0/1

0/1

17%

17%

Won

0%

0%

See Full Stats

At the end of the match, Wawrinka scored 81 points vs. the Russian’s 70.

The Swiss served pretty well to win 90% of the points (37/41) behind his first serve. Yet he won only 48% points (14/29) on his second serve. The Swiss struck 10 aces and he committed 2 double faults. Wawrinka won this match even if he was battling in converting his break points after he converted only 17% (1/6) of the procured opportunities. On the other side, the Russian wasn’t able to conquer any break point (0/1). That was one of the key issues for his defeat.

After this match, the head to head between Wawrinka and Karatsev is 1-0 for Stan.

At challenger level, this was the 7^th career title for Wawrinka. At challenger level, Karatsev 2 remains with 1 title after he conquered the tournament at the Kazan Challenger 2015.