27 winners, 18 unforced errors. The force behind some of those forehands was incredible, and while Federer tried various things to mix it up and change the pace of the game, he couldn’t, and his run without a Grand Slam win continues - it’s now three years since he won a big one (Wimbledon 2012), and five since he was successful on anything other than grass. Second set: Federer* 4-6, 2-1 Wawrinka (*denotes server). Federer entered the French Open as the second seed. By Uche Amako. He has won 29 straight matches since being beaten by Djokovic in the 2015 quarter-final, with the Serbian going on to finish as runner-up to Stan Wawrinka. Federer concedes but wants the point replayed. Still, he was magnanimous enough to praise Wawrinka's efforts in pressure situations: . Anyone can contribute to The Roar and have their work A bad miss sets up set point for Wawrinka, which Federer serve-volleys his way out of, channeling Pete Sampras circa 1999. This year, Federer is making his first appearance at the French Open since 2015 when he was beaten by his Swiss compatriot in the quarter-final. He gets one point back, but the game is over after a particularly massive forehand - even by Wawrinka’s standards today - forces Federer to put a forehand wide. An early break of Federer's serve staked Wawrinka into a fast 2-1 lead in the opening set. Anyway, shorts aside, a couple of errors creep in from both men - a careless net apiece - as Federer goes 0-30 then 30-40 ahead, and has Wawrinka on the ropes, but thanks to a few more of those supermassive big shots he clings onto serve. Le jeu est toujours arrêté. Last meeting: 2015 Rome Masters – Federer 6-4 6-2 Federer darkly mutters to himself after framing a Wawrinka serve into the clay, and he has more cause to mutter as Wawrinka once more powers into a lead, a backhand down the line providing more evidence that the junior man is just outplaying the gajillion-time Grand Slam winner. First set: Federer* 3-4 Wawrinka (*denotes server). Another serve-volley attempt is airily dismissed by Wawrinka, twice - once after hitting the tar off a serve with a backhand cross-court, then a forehand pass down the line that eludes Federer. Second set: Federer* 4-6, 3-6, 4-4 Wawrinka (*denotes server). 2nd June, 2015. Lovely stuff, this. #RG15. 2 simply never grew comfortable against Wawrinka's power. Yet a resolute Wawrinka refused to wilt under the pressure. All rights reserved. A particularly tense first point went Wawrinka's way. Roger Federer: Stan Wawrinka has two major advantages in French Open showdown - Wilander THREE-TIME French Open champion Mats Wilander believes the forecasted conditions today in Paris will hand Stan Wawrinka the advantage over Roger Federer. He slaps a tremendous backhand that completely wrong-foots Wawrinka, and nearly has him eating clay as he slips and drops his racket trying to reach it. This promises to be a fantastic contest between two mates who desperately want to win another Grand Slam title. Tie-break: Federer 3-6 Wawrinka* (*denotes server). Federer has faced Wawrinka twice at Roland Garros and beaten him twice. Tie-break: Federer* 3-3 Wawrinka (*denotes server). ESPN analyst and tennis coach Brad Gilbert felt the younger Swiss was dealing with the conditions better than his fancied opponent: Stanimal has come with guns blazing these 1st 2sets vs Fedfan, impressive ball striking through the breeze + fearhand large and in charge.