Wawrinka Beats Tsitsipas in Five Dramatic Sets to Reach French Open Quarterfinals, Nadal, Federer Advance Easily
(June 2, 2019) 2015 French Open champion, 34-year-old Stan Wawrinka outlasted 20-year-old sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 8-6 in five-hours and six-minutes to reach the quarterfinals of Roland Garros on Sunday in Paris.
Wawrinka has been making his way back on the tour since having knee surgery back in 2017. The 26th seeded Swiss said: “That’s the reason why I came back from the surgery in the first place, because I love and enjoy to play in front of people, to play in the biggest tournaments you can play. Today was something really special.”
“For sure, when I’m on the court, I try to enjoy and remember, also, everything I have done to be here.”
“Never experienced something like this in my life. I feel very disappointed,” said the man from Greece. “Emotionally, wasn’t easy to handle. I will try to learn from it as much as I can.”
“I was so close,” said Tsitsipas. “So close. I gave him room to do whatever he likes, all those break points.” Wawrinka saved 8 break points in the final set alone.
Wawrinka will face third seed Roger Federer in his quarterfinal. Federer beat Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 to become the oldest men’s singles quarterfinalist in Paris since 1971.
Wawrinka last played Federer at the French Open in 2015, the year Wawrinka won the tournament.
“I hope he’s not at the level of ’15, but we’ll find out, because there, he was crushing the ball. It was unbelievable,” said Federer.
Eleven-time champion Rafael Nadal also won by the same score as Federer, also over a player from Argentina – Juan Ignacio Londero.
Nadal will play the winner of No. 7 Kei Nishikori -Benoit Paire, which was suspended due to darkness with Nishikori leading 6-2, 6-7(8), 6-2.
This will be Nadal’s 13th French Open quarterfinal.
In women’s action, defending finalist and 7th seed Sloane Stephens, rebounded from an early break in the first set to oust 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza 6-4, 6-4 to reach the elite eight in Paris. Playing Stephens next from the bottom half of the draw is 26th seed Johanna Konta who beat Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-4. Konta is 2-0 versus Stephens in head-to-head matches. Others advancing to the quarterfinals are unseeded Marketa Vondrousova and No. 31 Petra Martic.
