Competing at the ATP 250 clay-court event for the first time since 2007, the 38-year-old won 77 per cent (23/30) of his first-serve points to advance after 63 minutes.
Wawrinka, who lifted the trophy in Umag in 2006, will next play Federico Coria. The Argentine Coria beat Swiss Marc-Andrea Huesler 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and 57 minutes.
“It is great to be back here in Umag,” Wawrinka said. “I won my first title here and I have amazing memories. It is great to still be playing. I really enjoy what I am doing. I really enjoy playing in front of people. It is great for me to be back here.”
In other action, seventh-seeded Italian Matteo Arnaldi defeated Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 7-6(5) to reach the third round, while Alexei Popyrin overcame Austrian Sebastian Ofner 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the same stage.
Spaniard Jaume Munar reached the second round, downing Gstaad runner-up Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. He will next meet Hungarian Fabian Marozsan after the World No. 87 beat Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3, 6-2. Marozsan shocked World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in Rome earlier this season.
Croatian wild card Dino Prizmic continued to carry home hopes in Umag. The 17-year-old, who is the reigning Roland Garros boys’ singles champion, earned his second tour-level win when he defeated Hungarian Zsombor Piros 6-2, 6-3 to reach the third round.
Rain cancelled the final match of the day between Dominic Thiem and Jiri Lehecka.
Source Tennis – ATP World Tour
