Wawrinka buoyant as title defence continues

Omnisports

May 28, 2016 7:36 AM

Stan Wawrinka remains on course to defend his French Open title and outlined his level of belief after brushing aside Jeremy Chardy.

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Reigning French Open champion Stan Wawrinka is high on confidence as he prepares for a fourth-round meeting with Viktor Troicki at Roland Garros.

Wawrinka was taken to five sets in his opening match with Lukas Rosol on Monday, but has since triumphed far more comfortably against Taro Daniel and Jeremy Chardy.

The Swiss expressed satisfaction with his performance in Friday's 6-4 6-3 7-5 victory over Chardy, stating: "Everything I did was pretty high-level. I'm really happy."

Troicki, the 22nd seed, could provide Wawrinka's toughest test yet on Sunday, but the latter believes his experience could prove significant if he is put under pressure.

Invited to assess the difference between "the Wawrinka of the Big Four and the Wawrinka of a few years ago", the third seed replied: "Everything is much stronger. My level of play is much stronger. Physically things are much stronger. I'm much more confident.

"When I'm playing against Troicki or a player like today [Chardy], it's all up to me. A few years back it wasn't just up to me.

"If I just come along and I move physically and I feel the ball, I have the match under my control. Then of course I need to win it. But it's great to be able to think like that.

"When there are days that I'm not playing too well, I know that there is always a way out. It makes a huge difference when you're not playing your best tennis but you can still win a five-set match in a grand slam tournament.

"Maybe that's what I have in common with the top-seed players. There are days where we accept the play isn't going to be as nice as usual.

"I've lost five-set matches in my life, too. There is no guarantee. But maybe we are a little bit calmer than the others."

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