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A22 sports
Monday 3 June 2019

Stan the Man: Wawrinka’s 5-set French win gets him Federer

By HOWARD FENDRICH toward 85 degrees Fahren-
AP Tennis Writer heit (30 Celsius), Wawrinka
PARIS (AP) — This is why and the diving-for-volleys
Stan Wawrinka went Tsitsipas provided by far the
through two operations on best theater around the
his left knee in the span of grounds.
a month. Why he dealt with Spectators at Court Su-
the rigors of rehabilitating zanne Lenglen cheered
that joint. wildly for Wawrinka when
Why he did all the work, on he egged them on, cup-
and off the court, required ping his ear or flapping his
to get back on the grind, to arms or even blowing a kiss.
raise his ranking from out- Tsitsipas’ electric, net-rush-
side the top 250, to matter ing style earned support,
again in the sport he loves. too, although he chastised
So he could participate himself early on for playing
in, and win, matches like “like a freaking zombie!”
the 5-hour, 9-minute test The key, ultimately, was
of excellence, endur- this: Wawrinka saved 22 of
ance and emotions that 27 break points, including 8
the 34-year-old Wawrinka of 8 in the fifth set.
barely claimed against “I was so close. So close. I
the 20-year-old, caked-in- gave him room to do what-
clay Stefanos Tsitsipas by Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka celebrates winning his fourth round match of the French Open tennis ever he likes, all those break
a 7-6 (6), 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 8-6 tournament against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in five sets, 7-6 (8-6), 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 8-6, at the points,” Tsitsipas said, paus-
score Sunday at the French Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 2, 2019. ing frequently between
Open to reach a Grand Associated Press words. “So many break
Slam quarterfinal for the first one of his three major tro- pointed out that Feder- er at the Australian Open points. So many.”
time in two years. phies. “For sure, when I’m er, 37, is the older man, in January en route to his Nothing quite so riveting
And so he could advance on the court, I try to enjoy Wawrinka smiled and re- first Grand Slam semifinal. earlier, when Federer beat
to what comes now: a and remember, also, ev- sponded: “Yeah, but he is “Emotionally, wasn’t easy 68th-ranked Leonardo
matchup Tuesday against erything I have done to be much better than me, also. to handle. I will try to learn Mayer of Argentina 6-2, 6-3,
his friend and countryman here.” So never forget that.” from it as much as I can.” 6-3 to become the oldest
Roger Federer, who hasn’t Exhausted as he was by a The No. 6-seeded Tsitsipas Asked moments later what men’s singles quarterfinalist
dropped a set so far in the match finally decided by was not in any mood to lessons he might have in Paris since 1971.
tournament. a backhand that floated laugh: He said this close- gleaned, Tsitsipas looked Federer is back at Roland
“That’s the reason why past Tsitsipas and landed as-can-be loss — he accu- blankly ahead and an- Garros for the first time
came back. ... I love and on the outside edge of mulated more total points, swered in a monotone: “I since 2015, when he lost
enjoy to play in front of peo- a line, Wawrinka still pos- 195-194 — caused him to have no idea. My mind is to Wawrinka in the quar-
ple, to play in the biggest sessed the energy to joke shed post-match tears for so empty right now. I can- terfinals. They’ve known
tournaments you can play. about facing Federer, who the first time in a long time. not even think, so I don’t each other forever, basi-
Today was something real- has won 22 of their previous “Never experienced some- know.” cally, and paired up to win
ly special,” said Wawrinka, 25 meetings. thing like this in my life. I feel As the sun blazed, unob- a doubles gold medal for
who won the 2015 champi- When a reporter, perhaps very disappointed,” said structed by clouds, and Switzerland at the 2008 Bei-
onship at Roland Garros for trying to offer some hope, Tsitsipas, who upset Feder- the temperature soared jing Olympics.q

Carapaz wins Giro d’Italia, Haga clinches final stage

VERONA, Italy (AP) — Richard Cara- who leapfrogged Mikel Landa into third
paz became Ecuador’s first Grand Tour spot.
champion as he won the Giro d’Italia on “I don’t have any regrets, we all had a
Sunday, while American Chad Haga was good Giro d’Italia, which was very hard-
fastest on the final stage’s individual time fought,” Nibali said. “I had great rivals,
trial. Carapaz showed he is strong and that he
Carapaz, who rides for Movistar, keeled deserved it ... Carapaz didn’t steal any-
over his handlebars with emotion inside thing, he was really strong.”
the Arena di Verona after the 17-kilome- Both Carapaz and Nibali took their chil-
ter (10.5-mile) route. dren onto the podium with them as they
The 26-year-old Carapaz has worn the collected their trophies.
leader’s pink jersey since winning the gru- Carapaz’s parents had also flown over
eling 14th stage on May 25. from Ecuador and revealed it was the first
“This is the biggest moment of my sport- time they had been on a plane.
ing life,” Carapaz said. “In this final time Haga had told his wife to stay at home.
trial I just suffered from start to finish until “Maybe that was a mistake,” the Team
I reached the arena of Verona. It’s fabu- Sunweb cyclist said as he smiled through
lous to win the Giro d’Italia.” tears of joy in a post-race interview. “This
The Ecuadorian finished the three-week is for everyone who believed in me and
Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz poses with the trophy after
winning the Giro D’Italia cycling race, in the Verona Arena, race one minute, five seconds ahead of supported me and sacrificed for me.
Italy, Sunday, June 2, 2019. home favorite Vincenzo Nibali and 2:30 “I gave everything today and to finally
Associated Press ahead of Slovenian cyclist Primoz Roglic, win ... it’s very special.”