Wawrinka Rolls Into Third Round

No. 3 seed Stan Wawrinka had a far more comfortable victory in his second-round match on Wednesday at Roland Garros. After surviving a five-set encounter against Lukas Rosol on Monday, Wawrinka improved his form as he defeated Taro Daniel of Japan in straight sets, 7-6(7), 6-3, 6-4. 

The Swiss star nearly found himself in another lengthy battle as Daniel held two set points in the opening set tie-break, but Wawrinka fought back from 4/6 to take the first set. He started the second set strongly by breaking Daniel and put consistent pressure on the Japanese player’s serve, earning break point chances in four out of Daniel’s five service games that set. Wawrinka broke his opponent once again at 5-3 to take a commanding two-set lead.

Daniel is known for his competitiveness and wouldn’t go away quietly, breaking Wawrinka in the first game of the third set.  Wawrinka had more firepower from the baseline, though, eventually earning the break back on a lengthy game on Daniel’s serve at 4-3. With Daniel serving at 4-5, Wawrinka sealed the contest on his first match point with a backhand winner. Next up for Wawrinka in the third round is No. 30 seed Jeremy Chardy. 

“He plays a different style, more from the baseline, a lot of long rallies, topspin, forehand. It was a good match. I’m happy to get through in three sets,” said Wawrinka. “Chardy is a dangerous player. He’s playing really fast and heavy, big serve and always trying to use his forehand. He loves to play here, so I will have to play better.”

The Frenchman delighted the local crowd on Court 6 with a straight-sets win over qualifier Adam Pavlasek of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. With the crowd chanting his name in the last game of the match, Chardy hit an ace on his first match point. He is looking to reach the second week at Roland Garros for the second consecutive year.

“I started very well, and I was able to stay focused and aggressive throughout. I think I played a solid match. My energy never went down. That’s really what I wanted,” said Chardy. “Playing Stan will be a rough one. He’s a great player and plays well on all surfaces. I’m going to go on the court hopefully very confident and prepare for the match the same way I prepare for my other matches.”

Meanwhile, Teymuraz Gabashvili continues to find his best form at Roland Garros. The Russian caused the first upset of the day on Court 2 by defeating No. 19 seed and local favourite Benoit Paire, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. Gabashvili reached the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time at last year’s Roland Garros. He’ll look to repeat that feat when he plays the winner of the match between No. 15 seed John Isner, who swept #NextGen star Kyle Edmund of Great Britain 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Lucky loser Andrej Martin of Slovakia continued to take advantage of his good fortune at Roland Garros. Martin dismissed 29^th seed Lucas Pouille of France 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 to move into the third round. Before Roland Garros, the 26-year-old Bratislava native had been 0-1 in Grand Slam matches (2013 US Open). He’ll face eighth seed Milos Raonic, who beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-1, 7-6(0), 6-1.