Wawrinka Ends American Hopes

© Getty Images

Swiss No. 25 seed Stanislas Wawrinka ended American hopes at the US Open on Tuesday as he battled past No. 20 seed Sam Querrey 7-6(9), 6-7(5), 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in very blustery conditions at Flushing Meadows to reach the quarter-finals.

The 25 year old, who had ousted World No. 4 Andy Murray in the third round, prevailed in just under four and a half hours on Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final in 23 attempts.

Wawrinka goes on to face Russian Mikhail Youzhny, who held off the challenge of Tommy Robredo to win 7-5, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 earlier in the day.

Buy Tickets | TV Schedule 

After clinching a tight first set on his fifth set point, Wawrinka looked set to take a commanding two-set lead as he served for the second set at 5-4. However, he failed to convert four set point chances and Querrey hit back to level the match in another tie-break. The American failed to capitalise on his momentum, though, as he squandered an early break advantage in the third set and Wawrinka made him pay by breaking serve in the 12th game to seal a two-sets-to-one lead.

Buoyed by the support of the crowd, Querrey kept alive his chances by breaking in the seventh game of the fourth set to level the match. However, Wawrinka, exhibiting his improved composure under the guidance of new coach Peter Lundgren, did not submit to the wave of momentum in the fifth set. After saving three break points in the third game, he broke Querrey’s serve in the 10th game to capture a dramatic victory.

Watch Interviews: Wawrinka | Querrey

Following Swiss No. 1 Roger Federer’s victory over Jurgen Melzer on Tuesday evening, there are now two Swiss players in the quarter-final of a Grand Slam for the first time in the Open Era.

The 22-year-old Querrey, a four-time winner on the ATP World Tour, was also looking to make his Grand Slam breakthrough by reaching his first quarter-final.

"I don't set my goals on what round do I want to make it to," he said. "It's more just how I play and attitude out there and doing the right things. This has been a great week, and I left it all out there today and I didn't get to the quarters. I'm bummed, but I did everything I could."

Querrey’s departure means there is no American representative in the US Open quarter-finals for the second year in a row. It happened last year for the first time in the Open Era. He said: "We want to make the quarter-finals. We're trying our best. I was very close, but next year is another year, and hopefully have a few guys in the quarters."