Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Nadal & Federer cruise into last eight - but Wawrinka takes five hours

Written by 
Published in Tennis
Sunday, 02 June 2019 11:06

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer stayed on course for a semi-final meeting at the French Open as both coasted into the last eight with straight-set wins.

Eleven-time champion Nadal beat Argentina's Juan Ignacio Londero 6-2 6-3 6-3 in two hours 13 minutes.

Federer beat another Argentine, Leonardo Mayer, by the same scoreline.

He plays Stan Wawrinka next after his fellow Swiss prevailed in a marathon five-set wrestle with Greek sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Nadal will face either Japan's Kei Nishikori or France's Benoit Paire.

On past form, Nadal would have greater reason for optimism should he meet Federer in the last four, having won all five of their matches at Roland Garros.

Federer, whose sole Roland Garros title came in 2009, is yet to drop a set in the tournament, after straightforward wins over Lorenzo Sonego, Oscar Otte and Casper Ruud, ranked 74th, 144th and 63rd in the world respectively, and Mayer never looked likely to dent his progress.

Victory assured Federer another piece of tennis history as he matched American great Chris Evert's record of 54 Grand Slam quarter-final singles appearances in the Open era.

Wawrinka digs deep to meet old foe

In contrast to Federer's routine victory, Wawrinka's gruelling 7-6 (8-6) 5-7 6-4 3-6 8-6 victory stretched over five hours and nine minutes as momentum swapped between him and his 20-year-old opponent.

Tsitsipas spurned eight break points in the final set, taking just five of 27 opportunities in the match, as he failed to tee up another meeting with Federer, who the Greek stunned in a dramatic Australian Open last-16 win in January.

Wawrinka saved three break points at 5-5 in the fifth set before converting the second of two match points with a floated backhand that clipped the outside of the line.

It is the longest match of this year's tournament, surpassing French pair Benoit Paire and Pierre-Hugues Herbert's second-round tussle by 36 minutes.

Wawrinka is the last man to beat Federer at the French Open, knocking out his compatriot en route to the title in 2015.

Federer has missed the tournament each year since then in an effort to preserve his body and prolong his career.

Wawrinka has had his own fitness concerns, with a knee injury threatening his career after 2017 Wimbledon. He slipped outside the top 250 after a first-round defeat at last year's French Open but has since fought his way back to his current ranking of 28th.

"It's incredible, lots of emotions Thanks to all the fans for staying and the support," said the Swiss after a victory that featured 123 winners (61 for Tsitsipas and 62 for Wawrinka).

"It's for these kind of emotions that I live for after coming back from injury."

"I have a bad memory of it," said Federer, 37, of their 2015 encounter in the French capital.

"Stan beat me in three sets with his terrible shorts! But he played really great that year."

Read 2531 times

Soccer

Ronaldo helps Pioli to debut win; Toney scores 2

Ronaldo helps Pioli to debut win; Toney scores 2

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring as Al Nassr defeated Al Ettifa...

Madrid learn schedule for 1st Intercontinental Cup

Madrid learn schedule for 1st Intercontinental Cup

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe first edition of the annual FIFA Intercontinental Cup for club...

Sources: Rose Bowl among venues for FIFA CWC

Sources: Rose Bowl among venues for FIFA CWC

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, is among the venues selected...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: Griffin, 21, mulls NBA future after buyout

Sources: Griffin, 21, mulls NBA future after buyout

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Houston Rockets reached terms on a buyout with forward AJ Griff...

Raptors forward Brown undergoes knee surgery

Raptors forward Brown undergoes knee surgery

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsToronto Raptors forward Bruce Brown underwent arthroscopic surgery...

Baseball

D-backs get Gurriel back in boost to playoff push

D-backs get Gurriel back in boost to playoff push

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMILWAUKEE -- Lourdes Gurriel is back to assist the Arizona Diamondb...

Braves reinstate 2B Albies after 2 months on IL

Braves reinstate 2B Albies after 2 months on IL

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Atlanta Braves returned three-time All-Star second baseman Ozzi...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated