Wawrinka, Roger-Vasselin in Chennai Open title round

Chennai: World No.8 Stanislas Wawrinka and Eduard Roger-Vasselin survived close semi-final matches here yesterday to make it to the title round of the Aircel Chennai Open.

The 28-year-old Swiss Wawrinka, winner here in 2011, looked relieved when Canadian World No.32 Vasek Pospisil conceded the match due to a sore lower back at 5-5 in the second set after the top seed had taken the first at 6-4.

Pospisil, who had Wawrinka, the top seed, in a corner in the second set, thus became the fifth player in the tournament to retire.

In the other semi-final, Roger-Vasselin had to dig deep to overcome an inconsistent sixth seeded Spaniard Marcel Granollers 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Wawrinka, who in 2013 broke into top 10 for the first time and also reached the US Open semi-finals beating Andy Murray, was stretched to break point by the 23-year old Pospisil whose lower back eventually gave way just as he seemed to be peaking.

Wawrinka, who belongs to the rare breed of one-handed players like his sparring partner Roger Federer, did just enough to win the first set in which the six-foot, four-inch Pospisil, who helped Canada reach the Davis Cup final last year, had his chances.

“I feel sorry for Vasek. I just hope that he gets well in time for the Australian Open. I am playing the best tennis of my career and look forward to tomorrow’s final against Eduard (Roger-Vasselin),” said Wawrinka in a courtside chat after the match.

Wawrinka’s opponent Roger-Vasselin too was relieved to end up on the winning side. “I had to battle hard and when I was down 0-2 in the third after losing the second set, I told myself not to panic and I didn’t lose confidence,” said the Frenchman after the match.