Stan Wawrinka overcomes Taylor Fritz in four sets to reach Wimbledon second round - UBITENNIS

Stan Wawrinka overcomes Taylor Fritz in four sets to reach Wimbledon second round

By sampaolo
3 Min Read

Stan Wawrinka overcame the loss of the third set to edge past World Number 65 Taylor Fritz 7-6 (7.4) 6-1 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 to set up a second round match against Juan Martin Del Potro.

The first set went on serve and came down to the tie-break. Wawrinka fended off the only break point of the first set at 4-4 as both players traded service holds. In the tie-break Wawrinka got a mini-break on the sixth point with a forehand winner to take a 4-2 lead en route to winning the tie-break 7-4.

Wawrinka broke serve in the first game to 30 and held his service game to open up a 2-0 lead. Fritz held his only service game after saving two break points. Wawrinka got two more breaks in the fifth and in the seventh games to win the second set 6-1.

Wawrinka earned break points in two Fritz’s service games in the third set. Both players held their service games until the tie-break. Fritz got a mini-break on the first point of the tie-break to race out to a 3-0 lead as Wawrinka made four unforced errors en route to winning the tie-break 7-2.

Wawrinka broke serve to love in the first game of the fourth set. The 2015 Roland Garros champion lost just four points in the first four games. The Swiss player got the double break in the third game to open up a 4-0 lead. Fritz saved a break point to get his first game on the scoreboard before getting one of the two breaks back for 2-4 with a backhand return winner.

Fritz won his third consecutive game to claw his way back to 3-4. Wawrinka hit a forehand winner to hold his service game for 5-3. Fritz won the ninth game on serve for 4-5 but Wawrinka served out  in the next game on his first match point after 2 hours and 23 minutes.

In the second round Wawrinka will face Juan Martin Del Potro, who beat Stephane Robert 6-1 7-5 6-0 to score his first win at Church Road since reaching the semifinals in 2013. The player from Tandil dropped just seven points in the third set.

Del Potro leads 3-2 against Wawrinka and won their last three head-to-head matches. They have not clashed since 2012. Del Potro won their only match on grass at Wimbledon in 2008.

Last year Wawrinka lost to Richard Gasquet in the quarter finals at the All-England Club. The Swiss player has just added 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek to his coaching team with the goal to improve on the grass surface.

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