Wawrinka sets up Federer ATP Swiss clash

Stan Wawrinka set up an all-Swiss quarter-final against Roger Federer by outlasting Frances Tiafoe 6-3 3-6 7-5 at the Swiss Indoors.

Wawrinka saved two break points when serving at 5-5 in the decider, then converted his second match point after six deuces in the next game.

After the 48th-ranked Tiafoe couldn’t handle Wawrinka’s fierce backhand passing shot, the two men hugged at the net.

Now aged 38 and 34, respectively, Federer and Wawrinka teamed up to win doubles gold for Switzerland at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Wawrinka is playing Federer’s hometown tournament for the 14th time.

They have faced each other just once in Basel, in a 2011 semi-final won by Federer.

Third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced to his 13th quarterfinal of the season by beating Ricardas Berankis 6-7 (7-4) 6-2 6-4.

The seventh-ranked Tsitsipas conceded just a single break point against the 70th-ranked Lithuanian.

Earlier, fourth-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut’s 6-2 4-6 6-3 win over Richard Gasquet also earned him a 13th quarter-final in 2019, joint best on the tour.

Hard-serving American Reilly Opelka upset sixth-seeded David Goffin 6-7 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 with the help of 29 aces.

In the deciding set, Opelka used his one break point of the match to force the only service break in any of the five sets he has played in Basel this week.

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