THE three-hour clash between Damir Dzumhur and Stan Wawrinka lived up to the hype with the two evenly matched throughout. It was a see-sawing affair with the dominance chopping and changing, but in the end Wawrinka reigned supreme 5-7 7-6 4-6 4-6.

It was a gruelling first set with Dzumhur pushing Wawrinka to his limits but the world number 15 ultimately prevailed in the tight contest to claim the set 5-7. Wawrinka showed plenty of composure and nous to think his way through the pressure and deliver when it counted while Dzumhur showed he is no slouch and has his own bag of tricks answering majority of Wawrinka’s questions.

The second set was neck and neck with both players delivering on their serve credit to their placement and speed. Wawrinka played with precision and depth able to come up to the net and stay behind the line to keep Dzumhur on his toes. It was a classy display from both players, pulling out all the tricks of the trade to win a point and claim some sort of ascendancy in the match. Dzumhur showed that anything you can do I can do better, unfazed by the power hitting of Wawrinka. The Bosnia and Herzegovina star highlighted that he was not going to take a backwards step or shy away from the challenge coming into the net and standing up when the point was there to be won. Wawrinka played with plenty of freedom opening the shoulders and unloading with his strong cross-court backhands. But the Swiss sensation let himself down at times forced into uncharacteristic errors and giving up points allowing Dzumhur back into the game. Dzumhur showed glimpses of brilliance winning rallies with his well-crafted plays and matching Wawrinka with everything he threw at him making it an enthralling battle. Some big hitting and good use of the court from Dzumhur saw him push the set to a tie-break and win the set.

Much like the rest of the match, the third set followed suit filled with plenty of intensity. Both players were unable to be separated, going blow for blow with their serve well and truly dictating the terms of the match. However, Dzumhur seemed to have the upper hand and only gained momentum as the match drew on with the 27-year-old capitalising on any half chances that came his way. While Wawrinka was not his normal dominant self in the first few games of the set he delivered a couple of pearlers with an impressive backhand down the line and power serve to keep him in winning contention. His presence across the court and speed got him over the line taking the third set.

It was do-or-die in the fourth set and Dzumhur knew it with the Bosnia and Herzegovina player coming out with a point to prove. He immediately asserted himself holding serve and looking to pounce on anything that came his way. But Wawrinka was steady- solid both on the back and forehand. He controlled his serve forcing Dzumhur to run ragged.

Wawrinka was saved time and time again by his impressive serve dishing up a whopping 21 aces compared to his opponents one well also recording an 81 per cent win rate on the first serve proving just how lethal he can be. Despite amassing more unforced errors with 41 to his name compared to Dzumhur’s 31 he stayed within the game hitting 57 winners.