Defending champ Wawrinka into Australian Open quarterfinals

Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland makes a forehand return to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday. AP

MELBOURNE — Stan Wawrinka stayed in contention for a second consecutive Australian Open title with a 7-6 (2) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (8) win over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez on Monday to advance to the quarterfinals.

Wawrinka saved four set points in the last tiebreaker while trailing 6-2, then saved a fifth before clinching the 3-hour, 2-minute match on his second match point.

The win helped Wawrinka get some payback against Garcia-Lopez for an unwanted record. Last year at the French Open, the Spanish player beat him in the first round, making Wawrinka the first first-time major winner to lose his opening match at the subsequent Grand Slam since Lleyton Hewitt lost at the 2002 Australian Open after winning the 2001 US Open.

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