Top seed Stanislas Wawrinka retains Chennai Open crown

CHENNAI: Top seed Stanislas Wawrinka retained the singles title of the Chennai Open with a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 win over Slovenian qualifier Aljaz Bedene in the final, here Sunday.

The one-sided final which lasted just 69 minutes, saw World No.4 Swiss Wawrinka give yet another masterly exhibition to pocket his third Chennai Open crown and the eighth of his Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour career while 25-year old Bedene, ranked 156, playing his maiden main draw final, was clearly out of depth.

The 29-year-old Wawrinka, despite 20 unforced errors, still had far too much class and ammunition for Bedene who was a semi-finalist here in 2013 when he beat the Swiss in the quarter-finals, but lost the next meeting here last year.

Bedene otherwise had a magnificent run in the tournament as he came through three qualifying matches before scalping three seeded Spaniards in Feliciano Lopez (2), Roberto Bautista Agut (3) and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (5) on his way to final.

For Wawrinka, winner here in 2011 and 2014, it was an excellent preparation ahead of the Australian Open, beginning Jan 19 in Melbourne where he will be defending the singles title.

Wawrinka, appearing in his 17th career tour final, underlined his class and ranking status in the first set with some searing winners on either flank and though Bedene gamely hung on, the Swiss was not to be denied.

Wawrinka broke the Slovenian in the sixth game, winning the game point on the back of a 20-shot rally which he finished with a brilliant backhand down-the-line winner which has become a trademark of the Swiss star's game.

The second set went with serve until the seventh game when Bedene, playing his maiden tour final, blundered on deuce with a double-fault and Wawrinka then came up with a winning return of serve to the forehand corner for a 4-3 advantage.

Thereafter, the match was all but over as Wawrinka won his next two service games to pocket the tie and the title. The victory was worth $73,400 and 250 ATP ranking points for Wawrinka while Bedene was richer by $38,650 and 150 points.