World no. 89, Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland, will take on Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia, the world number 108, in the second round of the 2023 French Open on Wednesday, May 31. Get the live streaming options of this Stan Wawrinka v Thanasi Kokkinakis match along with its preview, head-to-head, and tips here.
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Stan Wawrinka v Thanasi Kokkinakis Head to Head
The pair have never played each other before.
This will be the first match between the 38 year old Swiss, and the Australian, eleven years younger.
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Former Champion Digs Deep to Beat Spaniard
Wawrinka has a great record in Paris – he won the event in 2015, reached the final two years later, has been a semi-finalist and twice made the last eight. But at the age of 38, he is one of the oldest men in the championship, and the last thing he probably wanted was a five set first round battle.
That he survived it and held off the challenge of the Spaniard, Albert Ramos-Vinolas, is to his credit. Although both men had break opportunities in the first set, serve held sway, and it took a tie-break to decide it, Wawrinka securing it with his third set point.
One break of serve was enough for the Swiss to strengthen his grip on the match by taking the second set. And when Ramos-Vinolas dropped his serve at the start of the third set, the match seemed as good as over.
However, a break back was the start of a Spanish comeback, and, in the ensuing tie-break, it was he who was the stronger player. When he then romped through the fourth set for the loss of just one game, the whole complexion of the match had changed.
Wawrinka, though, is not a Grand Slam champion for nothing. He regrouped before the start of the fifth set, and broke the Spaniard twice in succession.
Ramos-Vinolas claimed one of the breaks back, but the former champion was not to be denied.
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Kokkinakis Beats Evans
Although primarily regarded as a hard court player, Kokkinakis’ achievement in reaching the third round in Paris remains his best singles’ performance in a Grand Slam to date (he did win the doubles at the Australian Open last year).
And he is halfway to matching that after beating the 20th seed, Dan Evans of Great Britain in straight sets in the first round.
In a first set largely dominated by serve, Evans had already saved three break points by the time he dropped his serve, and the Australian just consolidated his lead from there.
Evans went a break up in the second set, but two successive breaks of serve swung the pendulum firmly over to the Australian side of the net, and he was soon two sets to the good.
When the Englishman went a break down in the third set it looked like his challenge was over. He did get the break back, but, immediately dropped his serve again and Kokkinakis ended his challenge by serving out.
Wawrinka v Kokkinakis Prediction and Tip
Much may depend on Wawrinka’s power of recovery. He was taken to five sets, whereas Kokkinakis, the much younger man, progressed past the 20th seed in comfortable fashion.
Provided though, that his match with Ramos-Vinolas has not left him too drained, then the 2015 champion should advance.
Tips:
- Low Risk Tip: Wawrinka to win: 1/2
- Moderate Risk Tip: Under 38.5 games in the match: 5/6
The 2023 French Open will be played from May 28 to June 11. You can get all the tennis betting news with our tennis betting blog here. Also get rest of the tennis match previews here.
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