Stan Wawrinka advances at Rogers Cup after win over Kevin Anderson

I ended up opting for what turned out to be the wrong wager of the two I mentioned in the Wawrinka match yesterday, with the -2.5 games easily landing, but Kevin Anderson was nowhere near good enough to force a tie break in set one.

Swiss second seed Stan Wawrinka won a hard-hitting battle with American Jack Sock on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals at the Rogers Cup with a 7-6(3) 6-2 triumph.

The fourth seed at the Rogers Cup shook his head and used the word repeatedly when answering questions after a 6-4, 6-4, upset at the hands of France’s Gael Monfils on Friday in the tournament’s quarter-finals.

“I was trying to get the fans involved”, said Raonic.

“It’s that way always”, said Raonic of his serve. “I was calm, served very good and mixed up my game”.

Djokovic beat Czech qualifier Radek Stepanek 6-2 6-4 in a friendly encounter, during which both players repeatedly hammed it up for the crowd.

He started strong, winning the first game of the match quickly, with Monfils only scoring a point when Raonic double faulted on serves. “It’s one of the best match of the year I play, I think, in general”, Wawrinka said.

Nishikori had little trouble getting by American Rajeev Ram, requiring just 68 minutes to register a convincing 6-3 6-4 win. “He won Washington. He’s been playing more or less every day for the last couple of weeks”. “I have been able to get the better of him twice this year because I was controlling the court and taking time away from him coming forward”. The Japanese man seemed unable to respond, though attempted to attack the net more, but with his first serve letting him down, Dimitrov broke again for the set, 6-3.

A sweeping backhand pass crosscourt followed by a raised fist gave Wawrinka two break points to open the second set. “It’s always been hard to beat him, but hopefully I can do that tomorrow”.

“I love to play when it’s crowded, and if the crowd is for the other one, it’s fine”, Monfils said about facing a Canadian in Canada. Novak went through with 7-6 6-4 in 2 hours time, and for some time it looked that none of the players wants to bring the match home.

The Swiss second seed will await an opponent as Japan’s third seed Kei Nishikori faces off with former top-10 player Grigor Dimitrov, now ranked 40th.