Death came swiftly for Stan Wawrinka’s Yonex VCore racquet on Tuesday in Dubai. Like a silent assassin, the Swiss, frustrated by his play late in the first set against Sergiy Stakhovsky, struck a lethal, sinister blow then broke the racquet’s neck while simultaneously muffling the sound of its cries.



It was fast, just like Wawrinka’s late rally that moved him by Stakhovsky and into the second round with a 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 win.



Wawrinka will face Croatian qualifier Franko Skugor in the second round.

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