Stan Wawrinka wasted no time in booking his spot in third round at the Australian Open as he raced past Radek Stepanek 6-2 6-3 6-4. The fourth seed produced a masterclass from the back of the court as Stepanek's game was picked apart game by game, the Czech losing his third successive meeting with Wawrinka.
With an unerringly accurate serve and beautiful backhand, Wawrinka was able to produce 15 aces and passing shot after passing shot, Stepanek guilty of feeding one of the best backhands on tour.
Wawrinka – the 2014 champion – only needed 31 minutes to take the opening set, the 30-year-old showing too much power as he reeled off 12 winners.
The second and third sets followed similar patterns, Stepanek always looking to get to the net only for his opponent to find ways past him with perfectly executed groundstrokes.
Another 31 winners followed as Wawrinka cruised into the next round, only a brief spat with the umpire over which language to communicate with on court raising his blood pressure.
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Wawrinka (4) bt Stepanek 6-2 6-3 6-4
ACES
Wawrinka - 15
Stepanek - 4
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Wawrinka - 43/23
Stepanek - 31/25
BREAK POINTS WON
Wawrinka - 5/12
Stepanek - 1/11
FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE
Wawrinka - 56
Stepanek - 70
PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE
Wawrinka - 73/53
Stepanek - 67/31
TOTAL POINTS
Wawrinka - 107
Stepanek - 86
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