The third-ranked Wawrinka continued his strong play on clay by powering through no. 29 Fabio Fognini. Though not exactly starting up to par, he was able to finish the last two sets emphatically, as he won the 12 of the last 14 games in the match to tally a 7-6 (2), 6-0, 6-2 victory.
With the win, Wawrinka has now stitched together seven straight wins on clay (167-82 all-time), which included his successful run for a title at the recently-concluded Geneva Open (held on a clay court). That, along with his 2015 French Open championship, is definitely making him a good pick to once again reign in the whole tournament.
Among the things that the Swiss is also showcasing well this season, particularly at the Roland Garros, is his power. In his last two, he has outscored opponents in aces, 22-6, while also netting 35.3 winners per contest.
He has three wins in five meetings with Monfils, but this will be their first meeting since 2011, and first that is held on a clay surface.
World no. 9 Monfils got some luck in his tight scramble with Richard Gasquet in the round of 32, as the latter retired due to a thigh injury with the match tied at one set apiece and the third set being a close 4-3.
It’s not like Monfils really needed luck, though. Barring his 18 percent break point clip (2-for-11), he still looked good and was able to hit 37 winners. Also, what the 30-year-old is good at as of late is finishing – combining the last sets in his matches with Thiago Monteiro and Dustin Brown, he has only lost one game (12-1).
In battling Wawrinka, we should see him try to impose his power. It’s something he is arguably ahead of the Swiss, as he has 300-plus more aces despite playing in 95 less matches.
Monfils is 110-65 all-time on clay, and his .736 win percentage at the French Open (28-10) is his highest in any of the Grand Slam tournaments.
