Chennai, Jan 1: Top seed Stanislas Wawrinka scored a clinical 6-3 6-1 win over Benjamin Becker to progress to the quarterfinals of the ATP Chennai Open even as second seed Michael Youzhny conceded his singles match in yet another the player pull out, here today.
Title favourite and world number eight Wawrinka needed just 54 minutes to brush aside the challenge of 79th ranked German rival in the rain-hit second round match.
Youzhny conceded his match against Israeli Dudi Sela when he was trailing 1-3 in the opening set due to a stomach problem. A winner here in 2008, YOuzhny issued a statement late on saying it was not possible for him to continue.
“It’s a stomach problem. I actually wanted to play, but it was not possible. When you have restricted movement, its no use to play and lose. It started last week in Thailand, some virus, and it continued here this week too. I’m sorry for the tournament and the spectators, but its not possible for me to play,” he said.
The tournament has been hit badly by players pull out as Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic had decided not to compete due to an injury and Italian Fabio Fognini, who was to partner Leander Paes in the doubles, also pulled out due to an injury.
As a result the Croatian pair of Marin Draganja and Mate Pavic got a walk over.
The story did not end here as qualifier Alexander Kudryavtsev from Russia also conceded his match today after winning his first set rather easily against 95th ranked Slovakian Aljaz Bedene.
He was trailing 0-3 in the second set when he decided to concede the match. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel