Roger Federer has been dumped out of the French Open after he suffered a straight-sets defeat to Stanislas Wawrinka at the last-eight stage at Roland Garros.
Wawrinka had won just twice in 18 attempts against his Swiss compatriot but he was always in control on a wind-swept Suzanne-Lenglen court.
The eighth seed came through by a 6-4 6-3 7-6 scoreline to set up a semi-final showdown with either Kei Nishikori or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Read below to see how the action unfolded in Paris.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the French Open quarter-finals between Stanislas Wawrinka and Roger Federer.
With Novak Djokovic beating pretty much everyone put in front of him and Rafael Nadal winning nine of the last 10 titles at Roland Garros, Roger Federer may have questioned his chances of reaching another French Open title but after being placed in the opposite side of the draw to the two tournament favourites, the 33-year-old is just two matches away from earning the chance to repeat his achievement in 2009.
However, despite getting the better of today's opponent in Rome earlier this month, Federer will take nothing for granted when facing Wawrinka this afternoon. He dominates the head-to-head record between the pair but his Swiss compatriot has recorded two wins against him on clay and enters the match having conceded just seven games in a fourth-round demolition of Gilles Simon.
Before we cracking with this encounter, it's worth noting that the other last-eight contest between Kei Nishikori and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is already underway on Philippe Chatrier, with Tsonga romping to the opener by a 6-1 scoreline. That would be a decent-sized upset if he can get the better of Nishikori.
Anyway, Federer and Wawrinka are ready to get underway on Suzanne Lenglen. It will be Federer to serve first.
Wawrinka certainly isn't looking for any time to ease his way into this match. The 2014 Australian Open champion nails two winners past Federer to bring up a break point, and although it's saved by second seed, he creates another with a HUGE forehand into the corner. Federer holds on though, but I think he knows that he's going to be in a game this afternoon.
Federer shows that he is unfazed by Wawrinka's early onslaught by successfully over-turning the tempo of two rallies, but it's Wawrinka who comes through with a hold to 30. Already, this is warming up very nicely.
BREAK! What a game from Wawrinka. After taking the first point, he directs a backhand into the open court for 0-30 before he catches his opponent out with a well-directed backhand return. He has three break points but he only needs one after picking off Federer with a cross-court backhand winner. I mentioned backhand quite a lot there, huh? It could be the decisive factor in this match.
Solid stuff from Wawrinka, who breezes to three game points before drilling another winner for a comfortable hold.
Better from Federer, who does a more effective job of restricting the relentless attacking play of his opponent. A love hold includes some masterful touches at the net, but he will need more of that to stop Wawrinka winning this opening set.
Federer charges out of the blocks to reach 0-30 courtesy of taking away Wawrinka's time to line up his shots and although he allows his opponent to get back to 30-30, he grinds out a break point when Wawrinka goes wide with a forehand. It goes begging, as does a second chance when Wawrinka fires down an ace. A third opening is closed when Wawrinka smashes a forehand out of the reach of the second seed before he eventually comes through with the hold. Wawrinka has hit 13 winners in these opening six games.
After the first two points are shared, Wawrinka unleashes a return winner that brings a slip out of Federer. He's alright, though. Wawrinka takes him to deuce but Federer gets back to within a game with a well-executed drop shot from the back of the court.
I should probably mention the strength of the wind at Roland Garros. It's not hindering the quality of this match but it's almost brought a Federer return to a standstill. Wawrinka holds to 15 and he's now one game away from the first set.
Wawrinka moves to two points away from the set with a crushing forehand winner but Federer registers successive points to stop his opponent in his tracks. Wawrinka remains on the offensive though, and he creates a set point when Federer fires a routine forehand into the net. A smart second serve helps gets Federer out of trouble and Wawrinka will have to serve to take a one-set lead.
This has just happened on Philippe Chatrier. Fortunately, everyone seems to be okay.
Nasty moment on Chatrier as piece of hoarding hits spectators, one injured man leaves smiling & waving, play stopped pic.twitter.com/n46V5WE16M
— Piers Newbery (@piersnewbery) June 2, 2015
SET! After both men play shots into the net, Federer takes a 15-30 lead by wrong-footing Wawrinka with a backhand that leaves his opponent struggling to remain upright. Wawrinka gets back to 30-30 but the wind forces him to frame a backhand to give Federer a chance to get back on level terms. The wind has a similar effect on Federer on the next point to take the game to deuce and Wawrinka takes advantage to take the set.
Over on Philippe Chatrier, play has been suspended while the damage to the commentary box is repaired, but on Suzanne Lenglen, Federer is required to save a break point after Wawrinka continues to so little tact from the back of the court. Another is saved by a timely first serve before he eventually edges ahead at the start of this set.
Federer looks ready to make his move at 0-15 but Wawrinka responds with some accuarate serving to take the next four points in quick succession.
For the most part, Wawrinka is usually the wind to his advantage but with the score at 40-30, Federer finally enjoys some joy of his own by overpowering his opponent during a backhand exchange.
Wawrinka begins with another brutal forehand from the back of the court before he reaches 30-15 when the wind aids a second serve. He eases through the rest of the game and the pressure returns to Federer.
The majority of the games in the opening set were competitively fought but the last 15 minutes have been dominated by serve. Federer sprints to a love hold in next to no time.
It's more of the same from Wawrinka, who comfortably takes the first two points, but Federer misses out on the next when given a chance to put away a forehand. The Swiss number two eventually hold to 15 when bludgeoning another forehand to the other end of the court that leaves Federer with no answer.
BREAK! Wawrinka takes the opening point with a glorious passing shot, but Federer restores order with a couple of efficient points behind his serve. However, Wawrinka uses the wind to his advantage for the umpteenth time to reach break point before he forces the error from Federer at the net to steal the break.
Federer produces a bit of magic to halt Wawrinka's charge at the net but it's not enough to get anywhere near the break he needs. Wawrinka is doing a really effective job so far and he gets the hold to 15 to move one away of a commanding two-set advantage.
SET! This is simply sublime from Wawrinka. He crushes two absolutely marvellous winners past a floundering Federer to earn a set point and it's taken when Federer frames a backhand. The world number two looks despondent and I don't blame him. This is brilliant from his Swiss rival.
Wawrinka starts the third with a routine hold. All of a sudden, this next game is vitally important for Federer. Over on Philippe Chatrier, Tsonga has taken the second set 6-4 to move into a 2-0 advantage.
There are danger signs for Federer when Wawrinka takes two points in a row to get back to 30-30 but fortunately for fans of the Fed Express, their man holds firm to get a much-needed game on the board. It's the first one he has recorded in five attempts.
Right now, it's difficult to see how Federer is going to break Wawrinka. The eighth seed is not giving the 2009 champion a look in on his serve as he races to another hold to 15.
Three serves find their mark and three returns don't. Federer eases to 40-0 before Wawrinka allows him the love game by sending a forehand wide.
Wowzers. A monster of a forehand gets Wawrinka to 15-0, which is followed by an ace and a big first serve. He miscues a drop shot to ensure that Federer remains alive in the game but a second ace gets the job done.
Federer takes the opening two points with minimal fuss but Wawrinka halves the deficit with a well-placed backhand slice that Federer can only net. It's momentary blip though, and the world number two holds to 15.
Brutal from Wawrinka, who is doing very little wrong off the ground. He gets to 30-0 with a forehand winner before a love hold is completed with a solid serve out wide. Big game coming up for Federer. He must hold or Wawrinka will serve for the match.
At 0-15, Wawrinka has a chance to put away a forehand from the back of the court but he can only find the tape. That was half a chance. Federer gets to 30-15 but he is soon hauled back when Wawrinka fires a top-spin forehand down the line. The danger signs are there but two well-directed serves force errors from Wawrinka and we are back at 4-4.
Wawrinka starts the game with an inside-out forehand into the corner but he goes for way too much on a backhand and Federer is level. There's no nerves from the Swiss number two though, who finds his target with three serves for yet another hold to 15. Federer just hasn't got a look in on his opponent's serve, Now, he must serve to stay in the tournament.
Wawrinka misses out on a second serve to allow Federer to move to 15-0 before he does the exact same thing on the next point. They were two big openings. He makes a third backhand error of the game to gift Federer triple game point before the world number two ends with an ace.
Federer takes the opening point by taking advantage of wawrinka dropping his racquet to convert a comfortable passing shot but Wawrinka gets to 15-15 with a timely first serve. The wind plays havoc during the next point and it's Federer who blinks first in framing a backhand. Federer gets back to 30-30 - the closest he has been for some time - but Wawrinka remains composed to fire down two serves that his opponent can't handle.
Federer begins a must-win game with a shot into the net but he responds by stretching just enough to get to a volley at the net. The pressure is all on Federer but a quite ridiculous drop shot and a first serve out wide get him to two game points before a backhand volley takes us into a tie-break.
Wawrinka takes the first point with a relentless approach from the baseline but Federer replies with a volley. Wawrinka has a chance for the mini-break but he can only net a forehand to allow Federer to move to 2-1. Wawrinka comes under pressure on his next two service points but he records two winners to keep us on serve, before they reach the turnaround at 3-3 when Federer converts an easy volley.
MATCH! There's a bit of controversy when a line judge calls a ball out, only for Federer to concede that it was in to allow Wawrinka the point. Federer was expecting a replayed point though, and he's not happy. Wawrinka holds both of his service points with ease to bring up three match points. Federer saves the first with a one-two off his serve, but he can't save the second after Wawrinka ghosts into the net to put away the simple volley.
We mentioned at the start of the match that Wawrinka had won just two of his 18 previous meetings with Federer, but you can now make that three in 19. The Swiss number two has completely dismantled his compatriot, who for the first time in years and years...and years, didn't manage a break of serve in a Grand Slam match.
That last stat tells you a lot about this match. Wawrinka was brutal behind his serve and off the ground, and in truth, Federer didn't have much of a chance unless the standard of Wawrinka's tennis dropped significantly. The eighth seed will play the winner of Kei Nishikori and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who are currently in a fourth set with Tsonga holding a 2-1 lead.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us and we hope to see you again tomorrow afternoon when the likes of Djokovic, Nadal and Murray are all in action. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
