Wawrinka sets up quarter-final with fellow Swiss Federer

Stan Wawrinka
Stan Wawrinka

BASEL (Reuters) – Stan Wawrinka outlasted Frances Tiafoe over three sets to set up an all-home quarter-final against compatriot and fellow veteran Roger Federer at the Swiss Indoors yesterday.

The 34-year-old Wawrinka, who won 6-3 3-6 7-5, will attempt to beat Federer for only the fourth time when they meet for their 27th clash today in a dream tie for the Basel crowd.

Wawrinka’s last win over his countryman was at the French Open quarter-finals in 2015, since when Federer, four years his senior, has beaten him seven times in a row.

Earlier, third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas avoided an upset defeat against Ricardas Berankis when he came from a set down.

The Lithuanian, ranked 70th, won the first set in a tiebreak before Tsitsipas took control of his service games to secure the remaining two sets comfortably for a 6-7(4) 6-2 6-4 win.

Sixth-ranked Tsitsipas faced one break point in the match and won 75% of his second-serve points on the way to his 13th quarter-final of the season.

The 21-year-old has recovered well from a poor patch of form in August, reaching the China Open final and the Shanghai Masters semi-finals.