Stan Wawrinka began the 2019 season with a confidence boosting two match wins to reach the Qatar ExxonMobil Open quarter-finals, where he lost to Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4.
Wawrinka first beat World No. 11 and his doubles partner, Karen Khachanov, 7-6(7), 6-4 in the first round and Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 7-6(3) in the second round.
« I was happy with the off-season I did, » said Wawrinka. « I worked long and really hard, hard enough to know that sooner or later it will pay off. I’m feeling good physically. Tennis-wise, also. »