Paris: Former champion Stan Wawrinka downed Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas in the longest match of this year’s French Open yesterday to set up a quarter-final clash with Roger Federer.
Wawrinka sealed a stunning 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 8-6 fourth-round victory with a magnificent winner from yards behind the baseline after five hours and nine minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen. He has a 23-3 losing head-to-head record against close friend and fellow Swiss Federer.
“It’s incredible, lots of emotions. Thanks to all the fans for staying and (the) support,” said the 34-year-old Wawrinka after the third longest match in the last 20 years at the French Open.
It is the first time Wawrinka has reached a Grand Slam quarter-final since losing to Rafael Nadal in the 2017 Roland Garros final, and completes an amazing turnaround from 12 months ago.
Last year, the three-time Grand Slam champion, following injury struggles, lost in the first round to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and dropped out of the world’s top 250.
Earlier, Federer made short work of Argentinian Leonardo Mayer to become the oldest man in 28 years to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final at the French Open, while Rafael Nadal claimed his 90th Roland Garros win.
The 37-year-old Federer, playing at Roland Garros for the first time since 2015, claimed a 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 win over world number 68 Mayer in a sweltering 32 degrees.
Federer, the 2009 champion in Paris, is the oldest man to make the quarter-finals of a Slam since Jimmy Connors at the 1991 US Open.
Reigning champion Nadal continued his bid for a record-extending 12th Roland Garros title by beating Grand Slam debutant Juan Ignacio Londero 6-2, 6-3, 6-3.
World number 78 Londero had his moments, breaking Nadal when 4-1 down in the third set, but the 17-time major champion always looked too strong, powering 40 winners past the Argentinian.
Meanwhile, seventh seed Kei Nishikori of Japan led Benoit Paire of France 6-2, 6-7 (8/10), 6-2 before their match was suspended due to darkness. It will resume today.
The winner will face Nadal for a semi-final berth.
&uuid=(email))