Self-styled "Stan the Man" Wawrinka is getting used to being the last Swiss man standing at the Australian Open.
A year after breaking through for his first grand slam title at Melbourne Park, Wawrinka cruised into the last 16 on Saturday with a comprehensive 6-4 6-2 6-4 victory over Finland's Jarko Nieminen.
His next opponent with be Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, whose shock straight-sets victory over Wawrinka in the first round of last year's French Open was the only blip on a career-best year in the majors for the man who for so long played second fiddle to countryman Roger Federer - a shock third-round loser on Friday to Italy's Andreas Seppi.
"That was a big surprise for sure," said the fourth-seeded Wawrinka, who is yet to drop a set in this campaign.
"Seppi was playing really well, hitting it really flat like he can play.
"And Roger was not feeling great on the court - you could see that."
What was also clear to see in the crushing win over Nieminen on Saturday was that Wawrinka was again in the sort of form to go deep into the Australian Open.
"For sure I'm not the focus in this tournament because there's Novak, Rafa coming back from injury, Roger just lost and then there's Kyrgios and Tomic still playing," said Wawrinka, who wore a bright red t-shirt emblazoned with the `Stan the Man' slogan to his post-match press conference on Saturday.
"I'm not the focus, but for me, that doesn't matter.
"I'm feeling great and I'm happy with the way I'm playing.
"To get through to the second week is great and so far everything is good for me."
Garcia-Lopez advanced to the last 16 with a comprehensive 6-2 6-4 6-4 victory over Canada's Vasek Pospisil.
Fifth seed Kei Nishikori dropped the opening set, as he did in the second round, but recovered to defeat unseeded American Steve Johnson 6-7 (7-9) 6-1 6-2 6-3.
Earlier, Canadian No.8 seed Milos Raonic equalled his best-ever performance at the Open, thrashing Germany's Benjamin Becker.
Raonic only dropped serve once in the 6-4 6-3 6-3 victory over Becker, who sent Lleyton Hewitt crashing out in the previous round.
Raonic will play Feliciano Lopez for a quarter-final spot after Spain's 12th seed eliminated big Pole Jerzy Janowicz 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 7-6 (7-3).
Share
