PARIS - Former champion Stan Wawrinka is through to the fourth round of the French Open with a 7-6 (2), 6-0, 6-2 win against Italian Fabio Fognini.
''It was a very tough first set and after that I really got into it,'' said Wawrinka, the 2015 champion. ''I started playing much quicker.''
The third-seeded Swiss next plays the winner of an all-French match between No. 15 Gael Monfils and No. 24 Richard Gasquet.
Fognini briefly rallied in the third set for three break points in the sixth game. But Wawrinka saved all three, including an athletic volley at the net on the third one, to hold for a 4-2 lead.
The 28th-seeded Fognini, who comes with a reputation for having a fiery temper, briefly grumbled at the chair umpire moments later.
Wawrinka broke him in the next game and then served out the match. The three-time Grand Slam champion clinched victory on his third match point when Fognini swiped a forehand return into the net.