Wawrinka finds early form on Queen’s Club grass

Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka began his grass-court campaign by sweeping aside Briton Cameron Norrie 6-2 6-3 in less than an hour at Queen’s Club.

Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, enjoyed his success on the grass and felt content with his efforts in London.

The 33-year-old believes that the knee injury that almost ended his career at Wimbledon last year is now behind him.

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“I think, in general, it’s been improving week after week and I feel the difference on the court,” Wawrinka said.

“I served well and it’s never easy playing first round on the grass. Today was a great day and I’m happy to be back winning.”

Fast work, @stanwawrinka ????

The ???????? rolls past Cameron Norrie 6-2 6-3 in 56 minutes for his first #QueensTennis win since 2015! pic.twitter.com/KQNlw1aA2u

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 18, 2018

Wawrinka earned the first break at 3-1 before a backhand dropped inside the line to seal the first set inside 27 minutes.

Norrie wilted under the relentless efforts from the Swiss as Wawrinka served solidly to sail into round two, where he will meet American Sam Querrey.

Denis Shapovalov suffered a second straight defeat as he went down 7-6(7) 7-6(6) to Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller in the first round.

It followed Shapovalov’s first-round loss at the Stuttgart Open last week against Indian qualifier Prajnesh Gunneswaran.

However, this might be tougher for Canada’s Shapovalov to take as he was evenly matched with Muller on serve throughout, only for the world No.46 to find the edge in both tiebreaks.

Muller will face Marin Cilic in the next round after the top seed beat Fernando Verdasco 6-3 6-4.

In Germany, third seed Dominic Thiem beat  Mikhail Youzhny 7-6(5) 6-2 at the Gerry Weber Open in his first match since losing to Rafael Nadal in the French Open final.

Seventh seed Kei Nishikori beat German qualifier Matthias Bachinger 6-3 7-6(3).

On Tuesday in Halle, top seed Roger Federer takes on Aljaz Bedene and second seed Alexander Zverev faces Borna Coric.