Defending champion Stan Wawrinka advanced to the quarter-finals of the French Open by maintaining his perfect record against Viktor Troicki on Sunday.
Wawrinka in last eight of French Open
Defending champion Stan Wawrinka advanced to the quarter-finals of the French Open by maintaining his perfect record against Viktor Troicki o
The third seed will face Albert Ramos-Vinolas, a surprise winner against Milos Raonic earlier in the day, after beating Troicki 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (7-9) 6-3 6-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Two-time grand slam champion Wawrinka has now won all five matches against the 22nd seed from Serbia, who injured his thigh in third set and was unable to pull off an upset as his wait for a first appearance in the last eight of a major goes on.
After being taken to deuce in the first game, Wawrinka held with increasing ease before getting to 0-40 as Troicki served to stay in the opening set at 5-6.
Troicki responded strongly, saving four set points, but Wawrinka came through the subsequent tie-break, albeit after spurning a further three opportunities to move ahead.
The Swiss broke to love at the start of set two, a trademark backhand winner down the line securing the final point, only to then lose four games in succession amid a flurry of unforced errors.
However, Troicki carelessly netted a forehand to cede the initiative and a second breaker was required.
On that occasion, it was Troicki who initially claimed the upper hand – establishing a 6-3 lead as light rain started to fall – but the Serbian followed Wawrinka's lead in making hard work of getting over the line, eventually taking his fifth set point.
Wawrinka responded in impressive fashion, breaking to love to lead 3-1 and giving a ball boy his moment in the spotlight by allowing the youngster to join him for a few rallies while Troicki received treatment for a thigh problem.
Wawrinka sealed the third set when Troicki sent a backhand return into the tramline and victory was in sight when last year's champion went a double break up in the fourth at 4-1 by fizzing a cross-court forehand winner beyond the underdog.
The world number four served out the match to march into the last eight in convincing fashion.
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
ACES
BREAK POINTS WON
FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE
PERCENTAGE POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE
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