In Geneva, Wawrinka Fills Hole In Title Resume

At last, Stan Wawrinka has won a title in his home country.

In a high-quality and entertaining final, the Swiss star dismissed Croat Marin Cilic 6-4, 7-6(11) on Saturday to win the Banque Eric Sturdza Geneva Open. The win gives Wawrinka his third title of the season and his first on clay this year. It also should build the Swiss star’s confidence as he looks to defend his Roland Garros title.

“It’s a dream come true to be able to win a title in Switzerland, after all these tournaments,” Wawrinka said. “To be able to do it here in Geneva, in the event’s second year is something special. The fans were great. They made a lot of noise today.”

The World No. 4 jumped ahead early in the final against Cilic, who was playing for his first title of 2016. Wawrinka broke the World No. 11 to gain a 2-1 lead and later served out the set. The 31 year old didn’t face a break point in the opening set.

In the second, though, Cilic earned the first break to go up 3-1 and consolidated it to lead 4-1. But Wawrinka broke the Croat at 3-5 to get the second set back on serve. The home tournament blasted KC and the Sunshine Band’s “That’s The Way (I Like It)” after Wawrinka broke back. The Swiss No. 2 then held at love to tie the match at 5-all and later forced a set tie-break.

In the tie-break, Cilic had five set points but lost all five. On Wawrinka’s second match point, Cilic slapped a backhand long to give his opponent the match and the title.

“Marin is a great player,” Wawrinka said. “He really ramped up the pressure toward the end, with those set points, so it was nice to be able to finish off the match.”

Wawrinka had played for the singles title in Gstaad in 2005 and for the doubles title there in 2004 and 2008 but lost all three times. On Saturday, he erased those memories with his first Swiss title. He will receive 250 Emirates ATP Rankings points and €88,900.

Cilic will receive 150 Emirates ATP Rankings points and €46,820. The 6’6″ right-hander also heads into Roland Garros with renewed confidence in his game. Geneva was his first clay-court tournament of the season and his first tournament since March because of a right-knee injury.

“It was an amazing week for me and this was something… I was not even expecting,” Cilic said of his run to the final. “I definitely have great enthusiasm now for (Roland Garros).”