Stan Wawrinka and Roger Federer will be facing each other for the 23rd time in their careers when they battle for the BNP Paribas Open title on Sunday afternoon.
Federer is dominating the head-to-head series 19-3, including 14-0 on hard courts. Wawrinka’s three victories have come on clay in 2009 (Monte-Carlo), 2014 (Monte-Carlo), and 2015 (French Open). He has lost three in a row against Federer since last getting the best of his fellow Swiss, most recently via a 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3 decision in the Australian Open semifinals.
That was one of three five-set wins for Federer en route to his 18th Grand Slam title, as he also defeated Kei Nishikori (fourth round) and Rafael Nadal (final) after going the distance. The 35-year-old is 12-1 this season following straight-set victories in Indian Wells over Stephane Robert, Steve Johnson, Nadal, and Jack Sock to go along with a walkover from Nick Kyrgios in the quarterfinals.
Wawrinka took a much more circuitous route to the semis, twice needing three sets–and third-set tiebreakers–against Yoshihito Nishioka and Dominic Thiem. Nishioka served for the match at 5-4 and 6-5 in the decider only to fall 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) and Thiem went down 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(2). Wawrinka is 12-3 on the year and into his first title match on the heels of semifinal performances in Brisbane and at the Aussie Open.
“Roger, we all know him, so (there’s) nothing to say,” Wawrinka said when asked about the final.
There has been nothing good for Wawrinka on a hard court against Federer, and based on current form there is no reason think the tide will suddenly turn. The third seed has not produced his best stuff this fortnight, but he has survived because of clutch play in critical moments and in part thanks to a favorable draw. This is where the favorable draw ends, and if Federer continues his aggressive play he will be able to take time away from Wawrinka’s backhand.
Pick: Federer in 2
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3-3 in the second set… What you think, Hawks? You stickin with Fed in straights??
You’re good, Hawks…. You’re good, indeed. 🙂
#Humb1e
#NID
#WashingtonGeneralWawrinka
Well played Fed! deserves to win. Stan was not close to being Stanimal though. So, is Fed playing Miami?
Yes, why not? Better for him to play on HC than on clay.
Stan far too inconsistent. He broke too early in the second set I feel, and was anxious to hold on to it and so started making more errors and missing his shots. Anyway, I doubt he would win either even if it went to a third set.
Fed was too crafty for this Stan; if it’s on clay then Stan would have the edge over Fed. Fed didn’t play as well as when facing Rafa; Fed made more errors in this final but was still good enough to win in straight sets.
I do feel only a top form Kyrgios could make a match with Fed on this surface; he has all the tools to do so and is quick enough to match Fed’s aggressive play.
It’s not easy to win in windy desert conditions and when it’s difficult to control the ball. It’s a testament as to how good Fed, Djoko and Rafa are being multiple title winners here. I do remember Murray’s only final in 2009 facing a Rafa in very windy conditions, and how Murray cursed and sworn all the way throughout the match, while Rafa just kept his cool, moved his legs to adjust to the windy conditions and won with lopsided score line.
ROGER WINS ALLEZ??? and how bout Novak and Andy pulling out both with elbow injuries dang that’s some opportunity for Roger stan Rafa and the rest of the top guys.
It’s actually nice to see Stan show some emotion after a loss… Sometimes I feel like maybe he doesn’t care enough, but judging by his runner-up speech, he clearly cares!
“i’ll just bury that inside.”
Hahahahaha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56Qf1H16T3U
#GOAT
Congrats to Benny G. and the Fed fans!
Well at least Fedal can’t meet before the finals in Miami.
#GOAT passes Rafa in the process for No. 6.
#WithABullet
Oldest player to win a Masters 1000 event.
#WhoElse
Federer was not pumped up for this match, but he was so confident. I hope he will never consider to chase nr 1 ranking. Being healthy and having real shot at winning GS and Masters is so much more fun.
Sorry, I made some comments over on the Fed-Nadal R4 article. I thought Roger did well to win this one. Stanimal showed up, but not consistently enough. And agree with VamosRafa that those half-volleys from the baseline are a killer. I’m not sure anyone else on tour can do that; those shots were drilled by Wawrinka. It is definitely a sign of confidence on Roger’s part, but more important, I think it’s his best (maybe only) way of winning a baseline rally against Wawrinka goes into Stanimus Prime mode. trying to slug it out with that version of Stan is a losing bet.
Finally watching the trophy ceremony. Why was Stan so emotional? Poor Stan. Charlene and Myla are growing up beautiful and still dressing alike.
Didn’t see Donna Vekic. Was she in Stan’s player box? hmm…
CryBaby being CryBaby. ?
#MirkasRight
You’re ruthless, Hawks. 🙂 What’s your beef with Stan, anyway? I’ve noticed you dissing him since I first came to this site.
He left his wife and young child to focus on tennis.
Mirka’s not a fan either.
And he was a whiny little bitch when Rafa had an MTO for his back in AO 2014 final and turned the crowd against him implying he was faking.
@ Hawkeye
Agree 100%. He is an outright cad and I never understood why his sweet ex-wife married him in the first place and then put up with him for so long. As a friend of mine once put it ‘he must have hidden talents’.
Donna is already in Miami. That’s why she wasn’t in Stan’s box. She plays in Miami qualies Monday.
For all the hoopla about #NextGen, I don’t think #ThisGen is going down without a fight. Even #LostGen is showing signs of fight.
Yes, I root for #ThisGen. Becouse I will be done watching tennis when they are gone. I hope they all keep playing even when strugling, reinvent themselves.
Imagine Djokovic beef up 10kg upper body muscle, ripping shirt in his cryo egg and punch Pepe Imaz to regain his mojo, wouldnt it bee cool?
Fed’s resurgence suggests that this article might be onto something here http://www.138mph.com/the-curious-case-of-roger-federer/