The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Wawrinka: Murray third favourite for Wimbledon
Swiss ace tips world no 1 Djokovic for another SW19 triumph next month
Andy Murray is only third-favourite to win Wimbledon, according to Stan Wawrinka.
French Open champion Wawrinka refused to bracket himself among the Wimbledon favourites, as is his premajor’ tournament custom.
The 30-year-old Swiss star considers defending champion Novak Djokovic the Wimbledon favourite, with compatriot and seven-time SW19 winner Federer next in line.
Wawrinka expects Wimbledon to plot a course that reflects the current ATP Tour rankings, with world No 1 Djokovic retaining his title.
“You want an order? I’d put Novak, Roger, then Murray,” said Wawrinka when quizzed on his Wimbledon tips following his second-round AegonChampionships defeat to Kevin Anderson.
“Novak is number one. He’s been playing so well since last year now and especially this year. I’m sure after losing the French Open final he wants more, he wants to come back and win the next big one.
“So he won last year (at Wimbledon). We all know that when he’s playing his best tennis he’s really good at it.
“If I put Roger next, I’m seeing the way he’s playing. Even if he lost a few matches this year, I’m sure he’s going to be ready for the grass. He loves to play on the grass. It’s always tough to beat him. Last year I was really close.
“Also I think with him with his confidence, if he can get through the first week or something, playing well, then he’s going to be tough to beat.
“And then Andy because he loves grass, playing at home, and he’s already won Wimbledon. He’s playing really well this year.”
Murray will continue the build-up to chasing another SW19 triumph to add to his 2013 title with a second-round clash with Fernando Verdasco today.
Victory would set the Scot, who lost his first-round doubles match yesterday with Dominic Inglot, up with a probable Queen’s Club quarter-final meeting with Grigor Dimitrov.
Wawrinka fought off five matchpoints but could not stop falling to a fourth successive defeat to Anderson.
Second seed Wawrinka was unable to extend the fine form that saw him sweep to the Roland Garros crown – even despite again sporting those infamous plaid shorts – with Anderson triumphing 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (13/11).
The 30-year-old Swiss star had enjoyed stunning form on clay, dispatching huge favourite Novak Djokovic in Paris to seal his second grand slam triumph.
Big-serving South African Anderson dumped four-time champion Lleyton Hewitt out in the first round on the Australian crowd favourite’s last-ever Queen’s appearance.
And now the 29-year-old from Johannesburg has dismissed another star with a big following at the west London tournament.
Anderson fired down 22 aces but still needed two match points on his own serve – and six in all – to edge home in the second of two tie breaks.
Anderson will now meet Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the quarter-finals after he saw off the challenge of Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3 7-6 (7-4).
Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis joked former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson’s courtside presence “distracted” him in a 6-4 6-2 defeat to Gilles Simo, while No 3 seed Milos Raonic book his place in the third round.