By Chris Oddo | Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Stan Wawrinka cruised in the opening sets and wiggled in the third to notch his 12th consecutive Australian Open victory on Day 10.
Photo Source: Corleve
Stan Wawrinka seems to enjoy defending major titles. Either that or he doesn’t think about it. Whatever the case, the Swiss No. 2 was beastly and behemoth in his hard-hitting takedown of No. 5-seeded Kei Nishikori, cruising in the first two sets then easing his way out of a strange third-set tiebreaker to prevail, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(5).
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“Phew,” said Wawrinka after the match. “I’m still nervous about the end of the tiebreaker.”
Nishikori saved five match points to draw even at 6-all in the tiebreaker before netting a questionable drop shot to give Wawrinka match point No. 6.
The result? A massive ace, one of 20 on the day for Wawrinka, and a 12th consecutive win at the happy Slam.
Wawrinka ripped a total of 46 winners, and converted on 3 of 11 break points to seize the upper hand against the man who defeated him in an epic battle at last year’s US Open. Once he seized it, Wawrinka never let it go.
Nishikori would have slim windows of hope in each of the first two sets, but each time it looked like he might be angling to make a move, Wawrinka would beat him to the punch.
The No. 5-seeded Swiss got Nishikori to net a backhand to finish the first set, and then he moved ahead early in set two.
With Wawrinka serving for the second set Nishikori would earn three break points, all of which were saved by clutch—and big—serving. Wawrinka's fastest serve of the match, clocked at 222 KPH, whizzed past Nishikori on his second break point, and after the Japanese delivered a booming backhand to set up the third break point, Wawrinka delivered another big serve--his get out of jail free card.
Nishikori, wilting against Wawrinka’s force on this day, would net another backhand to end the second set.
After taking an early lead in the third set, Nishikori would see it evaporate in the third game, and the two marched in lockstep to the tiebreaker after that.
Wawrinka appeared to have it locked up at 6-1 in the tiebreaker, but he made several tight errors to allow Nishikori to save five match points and put himself in position to change the complexion of the match. But on his next point his drop shot sunk harmlessly into the net.
Predictably, one more big ace later it was all over but the shouting and the fist-pumping.
Tweets, Notes
There was much debate about whether or not Nishikori made the right decision with this drop shot at 6-all in the third set. You be the judge:
Wawrinka’s one-handed backhand was in fine form all match, and particularly in these six seconds:
Both players were on a three-match losing streak vs. the Top 5. Wawrinka’s last top-five win had come against Roger Federer last April.
Wawrinka improved his 2015 tiebreak record to 6-0 with his third-set triumph.
Wawrinka improves to 3-1 lifetime vs. Nishikori, and 1-1 at the majors.