French Open: Wawrinka finds his groove

Omnisports

May 25, 2016 3:28 AM

Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray both booked third-round spots at the French Open on Wednesday, but had very different days on court.

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Defending champion Stan Wawrinka had no repeat of his first-round struggle at the French Open, but Andy Murray was taken to five sets again on Wednesday.

Wawrinka was given a scare by Lukas Rosol in his opening match at Roland Garros, however he was in complete control against Taro Daniel, the Swiss cruising to a 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 6-4 win.

Things were not so easy for Murray, though, as he was again taken the distance, this time by Frenchman Mathias Bourgue.

Eventually the second seed prevailed after taking the final two sets, while Kei Nishikori showed Murray how it should be done with a straight-sets win over Andrey Kuznetsov.

STAN IN CONTROL

After the Rosol battle it looked as though Wawrinka would face another stern test, Daniel forcing a first-set tie-breaker, however the defending champion prevailed.

From there the Swiss was able to dominate the match, and he completed the win in just over two hours.

"It was a good match, I am happy to get through in three sets," said Wawrinka. "For sure there was some ups and downs, it could have been better, but winning in three sets is always good and in general I think it's been a good day."

MURRAY HAS TO DIG DEEP … AGAIN

Murray's stuttering start to the second grand slam of the year continued against world number 164 Bourgue as the Frenchman recovered from losing the first set to take a 2-1 lead – much to the delight of the home fans on Court Philippe Chatrier.

For a second match in succession the Briton had to win both of the final two sets to stay in the tournament, and, having eventually eliminated Radek Stepanek on Tuesday in a match delayed by rain, he raised his game superbly to do so.

Murray's touch and control returned to dampen Bourgue's hopes, the second seed eventually prevailing 6-2 2-6 4-6 6-2 6-3.

GASQUET AND SIMON KEEP FRENCH FLAG FLYING

On a day that saw five home players dumped out of the men's draw, Gilles Simon and Richard Gasquet gave the French fans plenty to cheer.

Lucas Pouille, Adrian Mannarino, Pierre Hugues-Herbert, Benoit Paire and Bourgue all saw their hopes end at the second round, but Gasquet had no such problems as he beat Bjorn Fratangelo 6-1 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.

And Simon will join him in round three after a marathon against Guido Pella, the 16th seed coming from two sets down to book a clash with Viktor Troicki.

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