Wawrinka Prevails Past Tricky Match-Up In Paris
Stan Wawrinka hit 16 aces to persist through a tricky second-round contest on Thursday at Roland Garros, advancing 6-4, 7-6(5), 7-5 against Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov, who had won a clay-court title earlier this year at the Argentina Open (d. Nishikori).
“I think was a really good match. I'm really happy with my game today,” Wawrinka said. “I think in general he was playing well. I knew what to expect against him. I needed to be focused on myself.”
The third-seeded Wawrinka moves into the third round in Paris for the 10th time and has yet to drop a set during his 2017 Roland Garros campaign. He's trying to become only the third man in the Open Era to win three or more Grand Slam titles after turning 30 (also Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall).
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Wawrinka has now won six matches in a row after winning the Geneva title on Saturday. “I think here I'm playing great tennis, so we'll see. It's only been two matches, so it's a long way to go if you want to stay here until the end. So that's what I'm focusing on, trying to do the right thing match after match, and we'll see what's going to happen,” Wawrinka said.
Much of the focus in Paris has been on Wawrinka's peers, including fourth seed Rafael Nadal, who's going for his 10th Roland Garros title; defending champion Novak Djokovic, who's been joined by new coach Andre Agassi for the first time; and top seed Andy Murray, who's trying to turn around his clay-court season. But Wawrinka doesn't mind.
“For me, it doesn't matter if we talk about me or not. I'm No. 3 in the world. I won three Grand Slams the past three years. I know what my level is, I know what I can do,” Wawrinka said. “I know exactly what I have to do in order to win a Grand Slam... so I just want to remain focused on what I do.”
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— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 1, 2017
???? Quel point d'Aleksandr Dolgopolov face à @stanwawrinka ! #RG17 pic.twitter.com/ROTO3xSOyk
The 2015 titlist entered the match with a losing 1-2 FedEx ATP Head2Head record against Dolgopolov, who was trying to reach the third round at Roland Garros for the first time since 2011 and match his best Paris run. But the two had never competed on clay, and Wawrinka showed his prowess on the red dirt throughout their two-hour and 36-minute match.
Wawrinka broke in the second game and again to end the first set. Both players held throughout the second set, but Wawrinka surged at the end of the tie-break to take a two-set lead.
Dolgopolov, a two-time clay-court titlist, brought his best tennis in the third set, overcoming an early break to be on serve at 5-5. But, with Dolgopolov serving at 5-5 and facing break point, Wawrinka showed the skills that helped him beat Novak Djokovic in the 2015 Roland Garros final.
???????? @stanwawrinka rejoint le 3e tour sans avoir perdu le moindre set depuis le début du tournoi ???????????? #RG17
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 1, 2017
???? https://t.co/zzvwPan11N pic.twitter.com/Xwuf0JuyQJ
He fed Dolgopolov a barrage of backhands before smashing a forehand up the line for the break. He served out the match to 30.
Wawrinka will next meet Italian Fabio Fognini, who beat countryman Andreas Seppi 6-4, 7-5, 6-3. Fognini, the 28th seed, converted six of 18 break points.
Go inside the tournament at RolandGarros.com.