Stanislas Wawrinka has overcome the challenge of Guillermo Garcia-Lopez to reach the last eight of the Australian Open.
The fourth seed, who was victorious in Melbourne 12 months ago, had to withstand a fightback from the Spaniard before eventually winning 7-6 6-4 4-6 7-6.
© Getty Images
Wawrinka started slowly at the Margaret Court Arena and he twice found himself down a break to the world number 37, who was attempting to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time in his 12-year professional career.
However, the experience of the Swiss number two proved vital as he fought back to force a tie-break, which he dominated to establish a lead.
The second set was more comfortable for Wawrinka, who dropped just six points behind his serve to ensure that a solitary break was enough to move to the brink of the last eight.
After breaking at the start of the third, it appeared as though Wawrinka would coast through the remainder of the match, but Garcia-Lopez wasn't finished, and he reduced the deficit by taking four successive games.
Throughout the fourth, Garcia-Lopez kept Wawrinka on the defensive with six consecutive holds before he earned four set points in the tie-break.
However, after Wawrinka saved them all, as well as a fifth at 8-7, he toughed out the final three points to keep his hopes of a second Australian Open title alive.
Darren Plant
