Tuesday 21 January 2014

Wawrinka over gallant Robredo

Stanislas Wawrinka, the Swiss 8th seed had a fourth round battle with Spanish 17th seed Tommy Robredo on the 7th night.  Wawrinka was on course to overtake Federer as highest ranked Swiss player should he advance beyond this match and Roger fail to make the semis, but that wasn't uppermost in Stan's mind, as I was informed, when the players tossed the coin.
Tommy Robredo was enjoying a resurgence in his career as a 30+ player and he entered the match an outsider but not to be taken lightly at all.

Stan opened the match in fine fashion with his forehand winning points and also volleying at the net to win as well - serve was held with ease.  Robredo had no worries on his serve but Stan on his second try double faulted and was taken to deuce before eventually holding and he led 2-1.
Stan volunteered for service break duties and he captured Tommy Robredo's for smashing without notice, to lead 3-1.
Although Stan faced break points late in the set, he saved them with attack, before settling in to claim the set 6-3.

The second set began with Stan wanting to quickly remind Tommy of his place in the contest so he broke the Spaniard immediately.  The two then continued holding serve, Wawrinka with ease, serving big and with brutal ground strokes, and Robredo struggling, having to fight off break points regularly.

At 5-4, serving for the set, Wawrinka tightened up, but still found himself at set point.  An amazing backhand from out of his back pocket allowed Robredo to save that point, and he proceeded to break the Swiss serve - games were 5-5.
We ended in a tie break which Wawrinka finally ran through comfortably to win the set that most of us believed deserved to have been taken earlier.
Stan now led 6-3 7-6

The third set was a slug fest for which no clear advantage was appearing.  The first 8 games produced no break points so a second straight tie break was beckoning.
Tommy Robredo then broke the deadlock and destroyed the gentleman's agreement by creating two break points on the Wawrinka serve in the ninth game.
An incensed Stan used his huge serve and winning forehand to avoid disaster and lead 5-4.
We did need another tie breaker, and in this one Stan reached 6-4 with two match points.  One was saved but Robredo netted a forehand on the second and Wawrinka had won in straight sets but a very tough 3 setter. 6-3 7-6 7-6.

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