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The men’s semi-final: Wawrinka sinks French hopes in Paris

It was a huge battle, very difficult physically, a lot of intensity on both sides and it could have gone either way

Afp June 05, 2015 Less than a minute read

switzerland 039 s stanislas wawrinka hits a return to france 039 s jo wilfried tsonga during their men 039 s semi final match of the roland garros 2015 french tennis open in paris on june 5 2015 afp photo patrick kovarik

Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka hits a return to France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during their men's semi-final match of the Roland Garros 2015 French Tennis Open in Paris on June 5, 2015. AFP PHOTO / PATRICK KOVARIK

PARIS: Stan Wawrinka shattered French hopes of a first men’s singles champion in 32 years on Friday when he outlasted Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-7 (1/7), 7-6 (7/3) 6-4 in the first of the semi-finals.

It was a consummate performance from the Swiss stylist and he will harbour high hopes of taking a second Grand Slam title on Sunday.

The 2014 Australian Open winner reached the final in Paris for the first time having lost just two sets along the way.

“It was a huge battle, very difficult physically, a lot of intensity on both sides and it could have gone either way,” said Wawrinka. “Tsonga had a great tournament and deserves just as much as me to be in the final.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2015.

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