Careless Stanislas Wawrinka Crashes Out of Indian Wells
Stanislas Wawrinka suffered a 3-6, 7-5, 6-7 (5/7) defeat to 15th seed David Goffin in the fourth round of the Indian Wells.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: March 17, 2016 05:33 pm IST
French Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka was sent crashing out of Indian Wells in the fourth round by David Goffin on Wednesday, describing his defeat as a no-brainer. (Click here for latest Tennis stories)
"It was a match without a brain," said Wawrinka, who lost 3-6, 7-5, 6-7 (5/7) to 15th seed Goffin.
Swiss Wawrinka had his serve broken seven times after dropping his serve just once in his previous two matches at Indian Wells, one of the biggest events on the ATP Tour calendar outside of the four Grand Slams.
"I had a tough time staying focused and being patient. I still tried to fight," Wawrinka said. "He deserved to win."
There were 13 total service breaks in the two hour, 25 minute marathon match.
"Two times I came back. I had the chance in the third set to break him and finish it at 5-5 and I didn't. He deserved to win," said Wawrinka.
Goffin advances to the quarter-finals of the joint ATP and WTA event, where he will face Marin Cilic, who defeated France's Richard Gasquet 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 in another three-set thriller.
Wawrinka, ranked fourth in the world, blasted six aces but had five double faults and won just 43 percent of his second serves.
Goffin's victory snaps a 14-match losing streak for the Belgian against top-10 opponents. His last win over a top-10 player was against Milos Raonic in 2014 at Basel.
Cilic beats Gasquet
Cilic hammered 15 aces and broke Gasquet five times in their match on the main stadium court.
Gasquet was one of three Frenchmen to advance to the fourth round, making it just the second time it has happened since 2001.
Hard-serving Canadian Raonic toppled sixth seeded Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-6 (9/7) to reach the quarter-finals.
Raonic's victory over Rafael Nadal in the quarters at Indian Wells last year was voted one of the top matches of 2015.
Raonic said he is playing at a much higher level this year.
"I have significantly improved over time," said the world number 12. "I do more different things.
"I make a lot more returns. I'm pretty efficient at the net now. I cover the angles I'm supposed to cover. I make the volleys I'm supposed to make."
Raonic, 25, will face the winner of a contest between France's Gael Monfils and claycourt specialist Federico Delbonis. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is the other Frenchman remaining in the field.