Stan Wawrinka reflects on his Australian Open opener against Ernests Gulbis

Swiss tennis star Stan Wawrinka hopes Latvian Ernests Gulbis hasnt picked up a big injury. Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian Open champion, reached the second round at Melbourne Park after a Gulbis retirement. Former world No.

10 Gulbis led 6-3 1-3 when he was forced to retire the match due to a back injury. Gulbis, now ranked at No. 86 in the world, broke the Swiss in the fifth and ninth game of the first set to claim the opener. World No. 59 Wawrinka then broke Gulbis in the first game of the second set and saved a break point in the following game to take a 2-0 lead before the Latvian retired the match during the fifth game.

Yeah, for sure thats not the way you want to get through a match. Its sad for him because he was playing well. Its the beginning of the season. Hopefully its not too bad, thats for sure, Wawrinka said post-match.

For me, the first set, he was playing well. I was a little bit looking for my game, little bit looking to play my tennis. He didnt give me so much time. Again, now I have the opportunity to play another match after tomorrow.

Wawrinka plays next No. 16 seed Milos Raonic, who beat home-favorite Nick Kyrgios in straight sets to reach the second round. The Swiss leads the head-to-head against the Canadian 4-2. Raonic beat Wawrinka at Melbourne Park in 2016 to reach the quarter-final.

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