Wawrinka starts season with third Chennai title

CHENNAI: Stanislas Wawrinka warmed up Sunday for the defence of his Australian Open title by winning the ATP Chennai Open for a second straight year and for the third time since 2011.

The Swiss world number four ended Slovenian qualifier Aljaz Bedene´s giant-killing feats in the season-opening $450,000 event with a 6-3, 6-4 win in a 69-minute final.

Some 4,000 Indian fans at the Nungambakkam tennis stadium cheered wildly as the popular Wawrinka, making his seventh appearance in Chennai, outplayed Bedene.

Wawrinka pocketed $73,400 and 250 ranking points for his efforts. But his biggest gain was a perfect tune-up for the Australian Open, which starts in Melbourne on January 19.

The 29-year-old did not drop a single set in the tournament, seemingly beginning the new season with the same zeal he showed by helping Switzerland win its maiden Davis Cup title last year.

Wawrinka had followed his win over Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France in last year´s Chennai Open final by beating Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final three weeks later. (AFP)