Tennis: Former champion Stan Wawrinka in French Open elimination
Mon May 28, 2018 02:38:pm Sports
2.8K By Obiaks Blog
Former French Open champion Stan Wawrinka has exited this year's tournament in the first round after losing a five-set battle with Guillermo Garcia Lopez of Spain on Monday.
Looking like a shadow of the player who won the title in Paris three years ago, Wawrinka struggled with his serve and hit 72 unforced errors in his 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 loss.
Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam winner who was runner-up in Roland Garros last year, has been hampered by knee problems that forced him to miss three months of the season. He had won just one match on clay heading into the French Open and entered the tournament at No. 30, his worst ranking since 2008.
Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, showed off his improving French following a first-round win.
The former top-ranked player did his postmatch interview in French on Court Philippe Chatrier after opening his Roland Garros campaign with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over qualifier Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil.
"Every day it's very special to play here. It feels a bit like home," said Djokovic, who has not won a Grand Slam event since the 2016 French Open. "It was important to win in straight sets."
Djokovic, who underwent right elbow surgery earlier this year, is the No. 20 seed in Paris, his lowest Grand Slam seeding since the 2006 US Open.
ESPN
Looking like a shadow of the player who won the title in Paris three years ago, Wawrinka struggled with his serve and hit 72 unforced errors in his 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 loss.
Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam winner who was runner-up in Roland Garros last year, has been hampered by knee problems that forced him to miss three months of the season. He had won just one match on clay heading into the French Open and entered the tournament at No. 30, his worst ranking since 2008.
Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, showed off his improving French following a first-round win.
The former top-ranked player did his postmatch interview in French on Court Philippe Chatrier after opening his Roland Garros campaign with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over qualifier Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil.
"Every day it's very special to play here. It feels a bit like home," said Djokovic, who has not won a Grand Slam event since the 2016 French Open. "It was important to win in straight sets."
Djokovic, who underwent right elbow surgery earlier this year, is the No. 20 seed in Paris, his lowest Grand Slam seeding since the 2006 US Open.
ESPN
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