Men’s Singles
Quarter finals
Rafa Nadal (2) defeated Kei Nishikori (7) 6-1 6-1 6-3
If this is the sort of stuff dished up at a Grand Slam tournament when we are reaching the pointy end of proceedings, then I’m sort of pleased I’m not in Paris this year. Nishikori gave us plenty to cheer about in his five set epic win against Benoit Paire, but he failed to turn up when required to play Nadal.
From the outset, holding serve for the seventh seed was clearly going to be a tortuous effort, 100% input for fractional gain. Nishikori held just four times from eleven attempts at the line, and when he broke the Nadal serve to draw level in set two, 1-1, it only served to precipitate a Spanish run of six straight games, the fifth of which sealed the second set.
Never send a boy on a mans errand.
Roger Federer (3) defeated Stan Wawrinka (24) 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(5) 6-4
Well, here is a story of take your chances when they come, or “au revoir mon ami”.
Stan Wawrinka had suffered all his long and distinguished career from Federer Fandom. This had marked respect for a Swiss compatriot, who just happens to be the biggest name in a generation of tennis, and alledgedly a friend, with regular insipid on court performances when competing against the almighty.
Before Roland Garros 2019, Roger had turned “Stanimal” into a wimperimg pet 22 times from 25 contests. Interestingly, the three successes for Stan came on clay, where the pair had met just 7 times, including 2015 Roland Garros, the year in which Wawrinka whipped Federer in the quarters in straight sets before ultimately tearing down the world #1 Djokovic in the final.
And it appeared this years RG quarter final may see Stan rule once more, with him leading 6-7(4) 6-4 4-3 and serving. With Stan yet to be broken in the match, and Roger looking less assured than at any stage of the tournament, the 24th seed had everything in his favour. Except for a brief incursion of the fandom. Wawrinka contributed a shocker from the line, and Federer broke serve. After that Federer created two set points. Wawrinka saved those and even had two break points for a 6-5 lead. Those chances went begging. So eventually a tie break. No one in the universe handles tie breaks anywhere near as capably as Federer, and he clocked his second one up for this match alone.
Wawrinka fought hard in the fourth set, saving four break points in the third game and another in the fifth, while Federer cruised through, surrendering just four points on serve in four visits to the line.
The inevitable service break came in the ninth game and at 4-5 Wawrinka saved one match point while Federer served for it. Stan even had a break back opportunity, but Roger dismissed that and on his third match point decided to end things.
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