Wawrinka leads seeds into Paris third round

Paris, June 1, (GNA/dpa) - The 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka dispatched a Ukrainian challenge from Alexandr Dolgopolov, earning a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 victory to move into the third round of the French Open on Thursday.

Third-seeded Swiss Wawrinka levelled his record against the Eastern European to 2-2 after beating Dolgopolov for the second time at a grand slam.

The 34-year-old Wawrinka won his 34th match at Roland Garros and stands 22-8 on the season. He came to Paris after claiming the Geneva clay title.

Croatian seventh seed Marin Cilic defeated young Russian Konstantin Kravchuk 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

"I'm taking it step by step, definitely my big focus, is to keep going with my game," Cilic said. "That's my only priority. How far I can go? I don't know. It's not up to me only.

"I'm very satisfied with the way I'm playing. My last two matches were really good quality tennis."

Japanese eighth seed Kei Nishikori needed a visit from the trainer and a third-set chest massage on his way to eliminating Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-0, 7-6 (7-5).

Asia's top player next faces Korea's Chung Hyeon, a winner over Denis Istomin 6-1, 7-5, 6-1.

Nishikori, a 2015 quarter-finalist at Roland Garros, won a dozen gams on the trot to move from 3-3 in the opening set to a 3-0 lead in the third, the moment he called for the trainer.

Russian Karen Khachanov upset Czech 13th seed Tomas Berdych 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.

Feliciano Lopez won a Spanish showdown over David Ferrer 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 while Argentine Juan Martin del Potro advanced when Nicolas Almagro retired at 6-3, 3-6, 1-1 with a knee injury.

American John Isner upset the clay formbook by beating Paolo Lorenzi 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2).

Women's ninth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, playing only her third clay match of an injury-hit season, overcame Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 6-3

"I have been struggling with my health for a couple of weeks. I only had a week practice, so I am just very happy to be in the third round," Radwanska said.

"The first set was very tight and she made the great shots in the important moments. It was a really good, solid match and I am just happy that I was able to play stronger as the match went on."

Fifth seed Elina Svitolina recovered from a set down to beat Tsvetana Pironkova 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

GNA