Wawrinka feeling positive despite loss in Dubai, says he's pain-free

Stan Wawrinka says that he is taking positives from playing his first event since experiencing a knee injury at the Australian Open, despite a first-round exit in Dubai.

Wawrinka, the defending champion, fell in straight sets to Damir Dzumhur.

"When you come back from injury, you always think a little bit," he told reporters following his first-round defeat, but added that he was pleased his knee held up.

“The positive of the tournament here is that the knee is feeling good now,” Wawrinka said. “…I don't have any pain. I need to still be really careful. I was excited and I wanted to do better this week ... but I think, in general, it's positive for my tennis."

The world No. 3 said that because of the injury, he had just begun practicing again the week before Dubai.

"Fitness, I start before," he said. "The tennis, I needed to be really careful with my body to be ready."

Wawrinka had been experiencing a right knee injury.