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Stan Wawrinka French Open 2020
Tennis News

Stan survives Evans scare


Wawrinka needed more than four hours to seal a 4-6 6-3 6-7(6) 7-6(8) 6-2 victory against the British No.2, who missed a match point during a dramatic fourth-set tiebreak on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka, who received treatment on an ankle injury, admitted he was happy to book his place in the fourth round, where he will meet Ukraine’s Illya Marchenko, who profited from Nick Kyrgios’ retirement.

“It’s always good to win by saving match point,” said Wawrinka. “It’s always something special, that’s for sure. It was a great atmosphere again today on that court, tough condition. There’s many thing I can look at my game because it wasn’t the best game.

“But I think [Evans] also deserves the credit to make me play not my best because he was playing well. He was changing a lot. He’s really talented. So was tough battle and I’m happy to get through.”

For world No.64 Evans, who suggested he may not be fit for Great Britain’s Davis Cup tie against Argentina on September 16, it was a missed opportunity to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.

“Just a bit of a heartbreaker really. It was a tough one to take. [It will] probably hurt a bit for a while,” he admitted. “I’m thinking about that smash at 8-All to put it away, or 9- All to put it away.

“I’ve never been in that situation before, especially against someone as good as him. Yeah, it’s just not easy, is it? I mean, being that close, I was thinking about winning the match. Whoever says you don’t think about winning the match at that point is full of it.”


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.