Worn-down Wawrinka retires, sending Bublik through to Metz final

Kazakh Alexander Bublik, the No 7 seed, moved into the final of the Metz Open when Swiss qualifier Stan Wawrinka retired at Arènes de Metz on Saturday afternoon.

Wawrinka’s official reason for retirement was a left hamstring injury. The 37-year-old appeared to be struggling with his movement from the onset, and he fell behind by a break in the third game. The match lasted just 18 minutes, with Wawrinka retiring in the fourth game.

The Swiss, who was playing his first tour-level semi-final in over two and a half years, had come through qualifying and played five matches in under a week. In the round of 16 he took out world No 4 Daniil Medvedev for his first top-5 win in over two years.

Bublik, ranked No 44, led 2-1 when Wawrinka, ranked No 284, pulled out on Saturday at Arènes de Metz.

The Kazakh will face Italian Lorenzo Sonego for the title on Sunday in Metz.

Bublik will bid for his second career title, while Sonego bids for his third.

Sonego leads the pair’s head to head 3-0 at tour-level.

Earlier in the tournament, Alexander Bublik won against French qualifier Evan Furness (5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (5)), Finn Emil Ruusuvuori (6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3) and Dane Holger Rune, the No 4 seed (6-3, 5-7, 6-4).

The 37-year-old Swiss beat Portuguese João Sousa (7-6 (1), 6-2), Russian Daniil Medvedev, the top seed (6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-3) and Swede Mikael Ymer (6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (5)) in the previous rounds of the Metz.

Metz ATP 250, other semi-final result (Arènes de Metz, EUR 597.900):

• Lorenzo Sonego beat Hubert Hurkacz (2): 7-6 (5), 6-4

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