Stan Wawrinka becomes the 3rd Swiss player to reach Roland Garros Final

One year after a first-round exit in Paris, Stan Wawrinka has reached a second major final with his 6-3, 6-7(1), 7-6(3), 6-4 defeat of Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on a steamy Friday at Roland Garros.

The 2014 Australian Open champion is the first No. 8 seed in the Open Era to reach the championship match at the French Open. He will face off against either World No. 1 Novak Djokovic or World No. 3 Andy Murray next.

Wawrinka, who won the boys’ singles title here in 2003 (d. Brian Baker), captured a routine first set thanks to an early break. He looked to be in control in the second despite a 31 per cent first serve percentage, earning five break points on Tsonga’s service game at 5-5. Amid chants of “ALLEZ, TSON-GA”, the hometown hero would maintain his composure, holding serve and dominating in the ensuing tie-break.

The 72-minute third set featured no service breaks, forcing Wawrinka to take a two-set lead in yet another tie-break. An early break in the fourth set would give the Swiss the leeway he needed to seal victory.

At the conclusion of the nearly four-hour match, Wawrinka had served 15 aces and saved 16 of the 17 break points he faced.

"He got off to a good start," said Tsonga of his opponent. "He played well from the very beginning of the match. He prevented me from being aggressive. I couldn't control the balls very well... He was more clinical, I would say."

Of the 39 players aged 30 and over who started in the French Open draw, Tsonga and Wawrinka, both 30, were the two remaining. The duo had split their previous six meetings, including two five-set matches at Roland Garrosin 2011 and ’12.

Wawrinka has now won nine of his past 10 matches against French opposition at the Grand Slams.

atpworldtour.com

With this win Stan 'the man' Wawrinka became the 3rd Swiss to reach this final behind Roger Federer & Martina Hingis.  Nicely done!.

Looks like Djokovic is having a tougher time with the match suspended till tomorrow due to weather concerns no rest in between.