Friday 20 January 2017

The good and bad of Stan

Stan Wawrinka is well placed for a run at the semi finals now, with both Marin Cilic and Nick Kyrgios gone from his section of the draw.  His immediate challenge is to overcome Viktor Troicki, who is one Serb still remaining now that the tournamnent is over for Djokovic.
Stan took all five sets to take care of Klizan but was more frugal with his time and energy when dismissing Steve Johnson in three.
Troicki confirmed losers cheques for Damir Dzumhur and Paolo Lorenzi.

The match opened with both players holding serve.through the first three games.

The fourth game saw Troicki serving, and start with a winning backhand.  It unravelled from there, with a double fault setting up two break points, only one being required as he employed a poor backhand. 3-1 Wawrinka.
Despite two aces, Stan could not control his unforced errors and accordingly he dropped his serve too, leaving scores at 2-3 and another Troicki serve to come.

Viktor double faulted twice, the second time resulting in deuce, before he recovered to have 3-3.
4-3 after another break of the Wawrinka serve.  Three awful backhands and a double fault were his undoing.
A forehand winner gave Stan game point in the ninth game before his backhand went off the rails and he was broken again to lose the set 3-6 to Troicki.

Troicki led 2-1 on serve in set two, but not until he had survived a long third game, and break points wasted to Wawrinka's great frustration.  A desperate defensive lob at 15-30 worked in Wawrinka's favour and he ultimately levelled at 2–2.

Against the run of play Stan achieved a service break, Viktor meekly surrendering a shot into the net on break point.  3-2 Wawrinka.
A love game extended the edge to 4-2.
The Wawrinka game had begun to return and this was confirmed in the next two games where Troicki was rendered powerless to prevent another loss of serve and became a virtual spectator as Stan served out the set 6-2, complete with two more aces.

Stan broke in the very first game of set three, and now appeared set to take control of proceedings.
Finding the sweet spot with his potent backhand, holding serve was becoming a standard task and breaking the Troicki serve a training drill.  He carried out this drill in the third game and led 3-0.
Another love game on serve and 4-0.

Wawrinka won the set and tightened his grip on the match 3-6 6-2 6-2.

Troicki navigated break points in the third game of set four and led 2-1.  However he couldn't escape the chances he gave the fourth seed in game five and Wawrinka now led 3-2.

Soon it was 5-3 and Viktor serving to stay in the event.
A double fault and 15-30, but he steadied to win the game, possibly his last for the tournament.
Wawrinka 5-4
Troicki wasn't giving this up and had Stan at 15-30.  Then a break point at 30-40.  A netted return on a second serve was disappointing and it was deuce.
A double fault presented Troicki with a second break chance.  Wawrinka dropped a tired looking shot into the bottom of the net and it was 5-5.

Two double faults from the Serb and he was in trouble again at 0-30.  Stan set up two break points with an easy winner following a good rally.  The break came rather meekly, the net capturing another failed shot from Viktor.
6-5 Stan and a second chance to serve it out.

A poor Swiss backhand was followed up by a better played rally by Stan but he was inconsistent and 30-30 was the result.  Break back point arrived with a lovely passing shot from Troicki but he couldn't handle a volley and it was deuce.
Stan played an awful backhand and then a poor forehand to gift the break back and a tie break would decide the set.

Stan saved a set point and managed to scrape through the tie break winning 9-7.

Through to the round of sixteen 3-6 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7) but worrying lapses at times.

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