French open: Wawrinka wins epic to set up clash against Federer
Former champion Stan Wawrinka downed Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas in the longest match of this year's French Open on Sunday 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 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.
5 hours, 9 minutes. 1 amazing tennis match.@stanwawrinka outlasts Tsitsipas 7-6(6) 5-7 6-4 3-6 8-6 to reach the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros.
? https://t.co/YBfhOfEkVk#RG19 pic.twitter.com/2Ql6Rz92on
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2019
"It's for these kind of emotions that I live for after coming back from injury."
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.
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Wawrinka sealed a stunning 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 8-6 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.
5 hours, 9 minutes. 1 amazing tennis match.@stanwawrinka outlasts Tsitsipas 7-6(6) 5-7 6-4 3-6 8-6 to reach the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros.
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 2, 2019
? https://t.co/YBfhOfEkVk#RG19 pic.twitter.com/2Ql6Rz92on
"It's for these kind of emotions that I live for after coming back from injury."
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.
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