Stan Wawrinka has yet to hit top form at these championships but remains in contention to become only the fifth man in the open era to win at Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year.
The Swiss set up a third-round tie against the Spaniard Fernando Verdasco by defeating Victor Estrella Burgos 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 in one hour and 31 minutes. The diminutive Estrella Burgos, the world No48 from the Dominican Republic, never really threatened to upset the French Open champion.
At 34, Estrella Burgos has seen most things on tour but has never reached the third round at SW19. He was certainly not overawed by the occasion on No1 Court, serving well and generally playing some solid all-round tennis. But when Wawrinka needed to step things up, he did.
Wawrinka, who recently did a naked photoshoot for ESPN magazine, had two break points in the opening set at 4-3 up but squandered both. On the third, however, he made no mistake, smashing a forehand down the line to take a 5-3 lead, serving out the set and securing an early lead with an overhead smash.
The second set followed in similar fashion, with only one break. With the score level at 4-4 Wawrinka stepped into the net, demonstrating a delicate touch with a deft half-volley before earning two break points with a thumping forehand volley. He took the first with an almighty forehand return crosscourt.
At 5-5 in the final set, Wawrinka stepped in again at 30-30 on Estrella Burgos’s serve, and after squandering an initial break point he took the second with a whipped crosscourt forehand before serving out the match after surviving two break points of his own.
Wawrinka, the world No4, said: “It was a great match. It’s not that hot and I’m happy for sure to get through in three sets. He’s a tough player, a good player and it was the first time I have played against him. I didn’t know exactly what to expect so I’m happy. The important thing is to get through these matches in three sets. I need to rest and get ready for the next one.”
On Verdasco, his next opponent, he added: “He’s a dangerous player, he always has been. A lefty.”
