Stan Wawrinka patient about progress despite Washington Open defeat

After being beaten by Donald Young, Swiss three-time grand slam winner says return from injury takes time but that he is on right track

Stan Wawrinka's comeback bid was rerailed following his defeat to Donald Young. AP Photo

Three-time grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka, struggling in his comeback from left knee surgery, was ousted by American qualifier Donald Young at the ATP and WTA Washington Open on Tuesday.

Young, ranked 234th, outlasted the 33-year-old Swiss 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 and advanced to a second-round match with Japanese seventh seed Kei Nishikori.

"It was a tough fight, a lot of nerves because he can hit any shot," Young said. "Stan at the top is totally different than when he's working his way back. I'm sure he'll be back. I won't want to play him when he's back."

Wawrinka, ranked 198th, fell to 6-11 this year after missing most of nine months before returning in May.

"It's painful to lose in the first round here, especially 7-6 in the third," Wawrinka said. "I was missing a lot for sure. It's tough when you haven't played a lot of matches. Tough loss for sure."

On the women's side, reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens opened by beating fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 7-5, 6-4.

Third-ranked Stephens, who captured her first grand slam title last year in New York, rallied from 5-2 down in the first set to book a second-round match against Germany's Andrea Petkovic.

"I'm super excited about the hard-court season again," Stephens said. "It was good I was able to fight back and win."

Wawrinka, who began his career in 2002, won his first grand slam title at the 2014 Australian Open and added the 2015 French Open and 2016 US Open titles. He reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2014 and 2015 but has not gone past the second round since.

Hard-learned patience over 12 years before his major breakthrough is paying dividends as Wawrinka tries to recapture top form.

"There are different steps. Right now is to get back a little confidence and get rid of all the doubt you have in your game," Wawrinka said.

"I feel like I'm really close, but sometimes really far. I'm sure I'll get back where I want to be. It's a long process and you have to accept that. I know I'll get back. I just don't know how long it will take."

It does not help that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal returned from injuries and quickly found top form. After several knee injuries, Nadal has won three of the past six grand slam titles. Federer has taken three of the past seven major titles after 2016 knee surgery.

"You can't compare an injury," Wawrinka said. "Some come back quickly. Some it takes more time.

"You need to accept it's going to be painful. It took a lot of years to win grand slams and if it takes me a few months to get my game back in top shape then that's all right."

Caroline Wozniacki has yet to reach the heights of her Australian Open title win earlier this year. Reuters

Wozniacki withdrawal

Stephens, who won her first WTA title at Washington in 2015, fired her sixth ace on her first match-point chance to advance after one hour and 53 minutes.

"I knew I was in for a real test from the very beginning," Stephens said. "I knew I had to be patient, play my game and wait for my opportunities."

Stephens became the top-rated player in the draw when world No 2 Caroline Wozniacki, the reigning Australian Open champion, withdrew due to a right leg injury.

"It's just something that has been nagging for a little while," Wozniacki said. "Hopefully it will be fine."

Stephens' top-rated remaining rival is Japan's 17th-ranked Naomi Osaka, the reigning Indian Wells champion who won her Washington debut 6-2, 7-6 over American Bernarda Pera.

"Confidence-wise, winning Indian Wells was good for me," Osaka said. "It has helped me a lot."

Top-seeded defending champion Alexander Zverev of Germany led Tunisia's Malek Jaziri 6-2 when 1 am rain halted their second-round match-up until Wednesday. One other men's match and four women's matches were postponed as well.

"There's rain in the forecast the next four days. Everyone has played late matches here," said US second seed John Isner. "Whoever deals with that the best, whoever doesn't mind playing at two in the morning, is liable to win the event."