Stockholm Open 2024: Tommy Paul vs Stan Wawrinka preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (4) Tommy Paul vs (WC) Stan Wawrinka
Date: October 19, 2024
Tournament: Stockholm Open 2024
Round: Semifinals
Venue: Kungliga Tennishallen, Stockholm, Sweden
Category: ATP 250
Surface: Hard-court (Indoor)
Prize Money: €690,135
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN | India - Tennis TV
Tommy Paul vs Stan Wawrinka preview
Fourth seed Tommy Paul will face three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka in a tantalizing semifinal clash at the 2024 Stockholm Open on Saturday, October 19.
Paul arrived in Stockholm on the back of a third-round loss to Tomas Machac at the Shanghai Masters, his second loss to the Czech in as many weeks following his Tokyo Open disappointment. He began his Stockholm campaign with a solid 6-2, 7-6(2) win over Laslo Djere in the second round, following a first-round bye.
In the quarterfinals, Paul faced Miomir Kecmanovic. After both players exchanged early breaks in the first set, it was Paul who edged a tense tie-breaker with some impressive net play to take the lead. The second set was much more one-sided, with Paul surging to a 5-0 lead. Though he briefly faltered while serving for the match, he closed it out on his next attempt, winning 7-6(9), 6-2.
Wawrinka also featured at the Shanghai Masters last, where he defeated French youngster Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round before falling to Flavio Cobolli in the second, 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 6-3, in a match marred by a controversial call against him.
Wawrinka began his campaign in Stockholm this week with a solid 6-4, 6-4 victory over sixth-seed Brandon Nakashima. He showcased remarkable resilience in his next match, battling past Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. He carried that momentum into the quarterfinals, where he edged top seed Andrey Rublev in two hard-fought tie-break sets, securing a memorable 7-6(5), 7-6(5) win under challenging conditions.
Tommy Paul vs Stan Wawrinka head-to-head
Tommy Paul and Stan Wawrinka are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head matchups. Paul won their most recent meeting at Queen's Club in 2022, while Wawrinka claimed the win in their only indoor hard-court clash at the 2020 Paris Masters.
Tommy Paul vs Stan Wawrinka odds
(Odds to be added once available)
Tommy Paul vs Stan Wawrinka prediction
Tommy Paul has been in outstanding form this week and appears determined to secure his third title of the season. His performance in his last match was exceptional. He won 80% of his first-serve points, delivered 10 aces, and struck 37 winners to 29 unforced errors. He also won an impressive 94% of net points.
Stan Wawrinka has also turned heads with his remarkable run in Stockholm this week. In his previous match, he won 77% of his first-serve points and fired 14 aces. He excelled in the longer baseline rallies and found success at the net while hitting 33 winners overall.
Paul enters the semifinal with a superior season record of 43-17, compared to Wawrinka's 9-14. Paul has also fared better on the hard-courts with a 23-11 record, while Wawrinka stands at 4-5. Wawrinka, however, has had more success on indoor hard-courts in past encounters, including a win over Paul in their only previous match on this surface.
While the statistics favor Paul, Wawrinka's blistering current form cannot be understated. The veteran's experience and determination make him a formidable opponent, despite his age. If Paul continues to perform as he has this week, he should narrowly edge out Wawrinka in what promises to be a thrilling contest.
Pick: Paul to win in three sets.