Stanislas Wawrinka outlasts Steve Darcis in round two – US Open 2012
Seeded 18th in this event, Stanislas Wawrinka, got the better of the Belgian challenger, Steve Darcis, in a four-set thriller at the Flushing Meadows 2012 on Friday. He nudged up a 6-7(6), 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory against the 28-year-old to charge into the third round at this major Grand Slam event taking place from 27th August to 9th September in New York City.
Wawrinka, who won gold medal in doubles event at the Beijing Olympics 2008, showed exceptional tennis to outclass Darcis in their second tour-level meeting. The last fought each other at the Davis Cup four years ago and after earning this success, the Swiss improved to a 2-0 lifetime in the FedEx ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Head 2 Head Series against Darcis.
The world number 74, Darcis made a nervy entry at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center and suffered the first blow in the opening game. However, he quickly recovered in the very next game and remained calm after that. He easily held his remaining serves and not only took the set to a tie-breaker but prevailed in it to clinch the opener with a 7-6(6) score line.
The former Top 10, Wawrinka made a fitting reply in the follow-up set. He broke the Belgian’s serve in the second game and jumped to a 3-0 lead. The Swiss held his remaining serves with poise and eventually sealed the set by winning six games to three.
Darcis found the right path again in the third set. He quickly swiped his entire serves without encountering any breakpoint and cashed in the lone break chance in the last game to capture the set with a 6-4 success.
Currently ranked 19th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Wawrinka unveiled his true form in the proceeding set. After Darcis held his serve in the opening game, the Swiss reeled off all six games and pulled out the equaliser with a breadstick.
The match could have gone in any direction but Wawrinka re-gained his early ascendancy. He easily held his entire serves without facing any hindrance and broke the Belgian serve once more to pocket the set with a 7-5 success.
Wawrinka will next face the 14th seed, Alexandr Dolgopolov from Ukraine.
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