ROME, May 10, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Stan Wawrinka believes he has what it takes
to get back to playing "great tennis" again, the former world number three
said after claiming his first victory in 15 months at the Italian Open on
Monday.

  The 37-year-old Swiss knocked out 14th seed Reilly Opelka 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 in
the Rome first round to win for the first time since last year's Australian
Open.

  Playing just his third match of the season, the three-time Grand Slam
champion rallied from a set and a break down to beat the 6ft 11 inch (2.1
metre) American and set up a second round with Serbian qualifier Laslo Djere.

  Wawrinka missed the majority of the 2021 season dealing with a foot injury
that required two surgeries.

  His ranking has dropped to 361 in the world and he admits there were
moments during his time away from the sport where he felt he was "way too far
to be able to come back".

  The desire to end his career on his own terms helped him work hard to
rehabilitate his foot.

  "After two surgeries, at my age, I could easily stop playing because my
career is way better than what I expected when I grew up, when I was young,"
Wawrinka said on Monday.

  "But I still have this fire on me. I still believe that I can play great
tennis. I still believe that I make some big results, maybe not now, but in
few months."

  Meanwhile, Canadian Denis Shapovalov apologised after losing his cool in an
argument with chair umpire Richard Haigh during his 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 6-3
victory over Italian Lorenzo Sonego.

  Late in the second set, Shapovalov had a second serve overruled by Haigh
and crossed the net to his opponent's side of the court to show the official
the ball mark.

  The umpire explained to Shapovalov he would have to give him a code
violation - which would result in a point penalty since it was his second of
the match - because players are not allowed to cross over the net.

  "That's just the rule," said the umpire before Shapovalov responded: "No
it's not. It's stupid." When the Italian crowd erupted, booing Shapovalov for
the lengthy stoppage in play, the 13th seed aimed a swear word at the fans as
he yelled at them to "shut up".

  Shapovalov also tried to get a heckler ejected from the stadium before play
resumed. The Canadian's second serve was deemed out resulting in a double
fault, and he received a point penalty which handed Sonego a break and
eventually the second set.

  After clinching the decider, Shapovalov apologised to the umpire and later
acknowledged he was wrong to cross the net.

  "It was the heat of the moment so I got emotional. I apologised after.
Obviously it was my mistake. There's nothing they can do," Shapovalov said in
his post-match press conference. "I'll know the rule for next time. I
definitely won't step over the net."

  - 'Better and better' -

  Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem continues his quest for a first
victory of the season as he suffered a 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) loss to Italian Fabio
Fognini.

  Thiem has lost all five matches he has contested since returning in March
from a 10-month wrist injury lay off, but he showed progress against Fognini
on Monday.

  "I'm really frustrated right now obviously," said Thiem.

  "Well, things have improved again since Madrid. That's good. I looked at
the stats after the first set on the big screen. Actually they are getting
better and better."

  Earlier in the day, former world number one Naomi Osaka withdrew from the
tournament citing the Achilles injury she sustained in Madrid last week.

  Simona Halep kicked off her Rome campaign with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over
French veteran Alize Cornet with the former French Open and Wimbledon
champion next meeting Australian Open finalist and number seven seed Danielle
Collins.

  American teenager Coco Gauff was untroubled in her 6-1, 6-4 triumph over
three-time major champion Angelique Kerber, while Olympic champion Belinda
Bencic skipped past home favourite Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-4, 6-2.