Wawrinka joins Federer in last 16 of US Open

Wawrinka's strong serve helped see off Robby Ginepri Keystone

Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka has beaten Robby Ginepri of the United States to earn a place in the last 16 of the US Open tennis tournament with Roger Federer.

This is the first time that two Swiss players have qualified for the last 16 of a men’s Grand Slam singles tournament.

The 22-year-old Swiss, ranked 49th in the world, followed up his victory over Russian Marat Safin by stunning the American 5-7, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a marathon match on Sunday night in New York.

“Now I’m just happy to be in the 16 for the first time and I just played four hours,” said Wawrinka. “I’m really tired, but I will rest tomorrow and I will enjoy the next match.”

“Stan’s” victory makes him the first Swiss other than Federer to reach the final 16 of the US Open since Jakob Hlasek in 1996.

Wawrinka will now meet Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela, ranked 20th, on Tuesday, while Federer plays Spain’s Feliciano Lopez, ranked 60th, on Monday night. At last year’s US Open, Wawrinka defeated Chela in the first round in four sets, and he holds a 2-0 record against the Argentine.

Good service

Although not playing his best tennis, Wawrinka served well and fought hard to come back to beat the American.

Wawrinka and Ginepri shared the first four sets with few breaks of serve, but it was the Swiss who was more attacking, hitting 59 winners to Ginepri’s 35.

Losing 2-1 in the fifth set, Wawrinka saved a break point and went on to hold at 2-2.

“I think my serve was very, very good after 2-1 down,” he said. “I just (tried) to do my best and to go to the net more than he did.”

On Ginepri’s serve in the all-important seventh game of the fifth set, the Swiss converted on double break point. Ginepri failed to win another game in the set, but he did save three match points in the final game before Wawrinka won the fourth.

The good news for Switzerland’s men follows the exit on Saturday of its two women contenders in the third round. Eighteen-year-old Victoria Azarenka from Belarus beat Martina Hingis 3-6 6-1 6-0, while highly rated Austrian 16-year-old Tamira Paszek defeated Patty Schnyder 4-6, 6-4, 7-6.

swissinfo with agencies

US Open facts

The tournament runs from August 27 to September 9, 2007.

Surface: Hard court

2006 Men’s Singles Champion: Roger Federer
2006 Women’s Singles Champion: Maria Sharapova of Russia.

American Bill Tilden was the last man to win the US Grand Slam four times in a row, taking six straight titles from 1920-25.

Prize money: the men’s and women’s singles champions receive $1.4 million (SFr1.68 million) each. Total purse: $19.6 million at least.