Stan Wawrinka is peaking in Paris again.
The 2015 Roland Garros champion completed a spirited two-day shoot-out win over Grigor Dimitrov, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (8), to score his 500th career win and power into the French Open fourth-round for the eighth time.
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Wawrinka's reward?
A blockbuster battle with 20-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas tomorrow in a clash pitting two wondrous one-handed backhands.
It's their first Tour-level meeting, but they have squared off in practice.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka came away impressed and a little surprised by Tsitsipas.
Wawrinka said the heavy weight of the young Greek's drives surprised him most.
"He's amazing player, for sure," Wawrinka said. "(He's) improved a lot. Winning a lot of matches. He beat already the top players. So, yeah, it's gonna be tough match, for sure.
"I think I never play him but practice a few times with him. He's actually, when you play against him, he has a different ball than when you watch him play. When you watch him play, you think he's playing a little bit slower than what he's playing in real life. He always look like he give himself a lot of time to play. He doesn't feel like under pressure. So playing the game well. Yeah, it's going to be an interesting match."
Roland Garros has been a revival ground for the 2017 finalist: the 28th-seeded Swiss has dropped just one set in three tournament wins.
Still, he's not looking past the talented Tsitsipas.
"Do I think or believe I can do it? Maybe. Who knows?" Wawrinka told the media in Paris. "But to win a Grand Slam, it's a long way, a long road. Yeah, I'm looking for doing my best in the next few years that I still have in my career.
"So far I'm happy with winning three matches here. I think I'm playing better, I think I'm playing well, and I'm looking forward to play tomorrow. As I say, it's still a long way to think about that here. I think there is a big match tomorrow. It's going to be a tough one, and I'm looking forward for it."
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve