WAWRINKA OUT OF DUBAI TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Grand slam winner Stanislas Wawrinka has been knocked out of the Dubai Tennis Championship.

The second seed returned to the sport after a knee injury threat that forced him to pull out from the Rotterdam Open. He faced world no. 77 Damir Dzumhur but he lost 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.

Since his frustrating semi final loss to eventual winner and compatriot Roger Federer, the Swiss was playing his first game. He was inconsistent in his performance due to his rustiness, which the Bosnia international took advantage of. Dzumhur’s victory will now set him up against Spain international Marcel Granollers in the next stage.

In other games, Federer cruised past Benoit Paire. Roberto Bautista, Lucas Rouille and Dan Evans also qualified from round one. Evans – a top three star in Britain – defeated Dustin Brown but he would meet French star Gael Monfils, who ended Egypt international Mohammed Safwat’s run in the Middle East.

Wawrinka will hope to be in top form when he features at the Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club in June. The player confirmed his attendance along with other top stars, according to reports. The tournament would serve as a good test for the top players ahead of Wimbledon.

Sir Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Grigor Dimitrov have also confirmed attendance at the event.

“By adding the US Open champion Stan Wawrinka to Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal, we now have 20 Grand Slam titles in our Aegon Championships singles field.

“Stan is one of the most exciting, spectacular shot-makers in the sport, and we are also thrilled that Grigor Dimitrov and Jamie Murray are going to be with us.

“Grigor is one of our most popular champions, and British crowds love watching Jamie play,” the tournament director confirmed.