Wawrinka downs Daniel to continue title defence

Stan Wawrinka overcame a first-set scare to continue the defence of his French Open title with a 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 6-4 win over Taro Daniel.

The Swiss – who needed five sets to beat Lukas Rosol in his first match – was 6-4 down in an opening-set tie-break, but dug deep to turn things around and wrap up a spot in round three.

Wawrinka applied early pressure on Daniel – ranked 93rd – but spurned five break points across two games before having to save two in the fifth.

Daniel was beginning to prove more than a match for his fancied opponent in a series of long rallies, the American-born Japanese completing a love service game to underline his growing confidence.

It was another convincing hold that took the opener to a tie-break, where Daniel passed up two set points then pushed a volley long before Wawrinka sealed the set with an overhead smash.

Daniel – enjoying his best run at a grand slam just by being in the second round – failed to put up as much resistance in the second set as he was immediately broken, while an error-strewn service game at 3-5 put Wawrinka in control.

But if the world number four thought the job was done, Daniel provided a wake-up call by breaking to love at the start of the third set – Wawrinka's prior accuracy seemingly deserting him as he failed to find the mark on either wing.

It was a chink in Wawrinka's armour that the 31-year-old quickly compensated for, breaking back to tie it up at 4-4 with a pinpoint backhand down the line.

With one more hold and a break – sealed with a backhand – Wawrinka's work was done and he will meet Jeremy Chardy in the last 16.

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN

Wawrinka [3] bt Daniel 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 6-4

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS

Wawrinka - 62/40

Daniel - 21/19

ACES

Wawrinka - 12

Daniel - 7

BREAK POINTS WON

Wawrinka - 4/17

Daniel - 1/3