Wawrinka sets up Nadal clash after hard fought win
Stan Wawrinka’s last two matches have been rollercoasters. After a mix and match 1st round match against Nick Kyrgios, the Swiss Wildcard had to save 4 match points in order to win his second round clash against Marton Fuscovics. He faces World #1 Rafael Nadal in the 3rd round of the Rogers Cup.
Fuscovics, who won against Wawrinka in Geneva with a bagel in the second set, hasn’t been able to replicate his form since his title win in Geneva. Both players contested relatively poorly, with below par shot selection and questionable mental fortitude throughout the match.
This also raises the question of whether or not Wawrinka can dig deep in his third round match against Rafael Nadal, who breezed through his opener against Frenchman Benoit Paire.
Injury Issues?
Wawrinka, who’s been struggling with his knee injury for the entirety of the 2018 season, seemed to have issues with his movement, especially while moving side to side. In one instance, Wawrinka sunk to the ground, grimacing as he probably tweaked his knee. While the pain didn’t seem to last long, it’s still concerning that Wawrinka’s knee problems continue to resurface.
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Scrappy Tennis
Both Wawrinka and Fuscovics played some scrappy tennis. Wawrinka especially played poorly, elongating points out that he should’ve finished 5 rallies ago. His game plan was shaky and his serve has also seen a slight dip for unknown reasons.
Vs Rafa?
Wawrinka now faces Rafa in the third round. Rafa has been in explosive form this season, losing only 3 matches so far (one being a retirement). His confidence is sky high and his game solid. However, Wawrinka is a player who has consistently raised his level to beat the sport’s best, with such a victory coming just weeks ago at Wimbledon vs Dimitrov.
Next. The “lost four” have all slipped: What’s next?. dark
If there’s one player who can beat the Big Four out of nowhere, it’s Stan. Make sure to watch the match, because an upset could be brewing.