French Open 2019 quarter-finals: Roger Federer beats Stan Wawrinka after Johanna Konta outclasses Sloane Stephens

Summary

Roger Federer beats Stan Wawrinka to set up semi-final against Rafael Nadal
Federer overcomes Swiss compatriot 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 at Roland Garros
Britain's Johanna Konta beats American Sloane Stephens 6-1 6-4 to reach semi-finals
Konta first GB woman since Jo Durie in 1983 to make last four at Roland Garros
Rafael Nadal beats Kei Nishikori 6-1 6-1 6-3 in other men's quarter-final on Tuesday

Live Reporting

Mike Henson and Alex Bysouth

Play suspended on Suzanne Lenglenpublished at 16:30 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
*Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 3-3 Federer
Image source, Reuters
It is more than gloomy out there. It is like the Death Star has just parked over the top of Roland Garros.
Apparently the mother of thunderstorms is about to drop in five minutes. But Stan Wawrinka and Roger Federer want to take shelter already considering how difficult it is to pick up the ball.
And they are granted their wish...
Postpublished at 16:27 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
*Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 3-3 Federer
Roger Federer holds tight and knocks off another game...but wait...
Wawrinka holdspublished at 16:23 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 3-2 *Federer
Is it just a matter of time until the drip, drip pressure makes a breakthrough?
Or is Stan Wawrinka going to force his way round into a dominant position?
There are some big black clouds overhead which might have some say in how this match pans out as well...
Wawrinka saves break pointpublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
*Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 2-2 Federer
Roger Federer has had 16 break points. He has converted just one.
Massive marbles on Stan Wawrinka.
We are back to deuce.
Federer with break pointpublished at 16:18 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
*Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 2-2 Federer
Uh-oh. He is more tenacious than a terrier with a chew-toy.
Roger Federer works up another break point as Stan Wawrinka plonks his drop-shot reply wide of the whitewash...
Postpublished at 16:14 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
*Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 2-2 Federer
Roger Federer rattles through a hold to love. He is not dwelling long on those missed break chances in the previous game.
Wawrinka holdspublished at 16:12 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 2-1 *Federer
At the centre of a pearl is a piece of grit.
Stan Wawrinka, all flashy backhand finishes, has dug himself out of a really deep pile of sticky stuff through sheer force of will.
Postpublished at 16:10 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
*Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 1-1 Federer
And another back in the bag!
Stan Wawrinka's arm seems to get looser the bigger the point. A monster forehand clips the line to see off a fourth break point.
Postpublished at 16:09 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
*Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 1-1 Federer
Stan Wawrinka saves a third break point with clubbing power, forcing Roger Federer back towards the ball kids.
Postpublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
*Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 1-1 Federer
And another big serve takes us to deuce...
Postpublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
*Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 1-1 Federer
Roger Federer with 15-40 and two break points...is this the beginning of the end for Stan Wawrinka.
Not yet. An ace off the big man's strings...
Postpublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
*Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 1-1 Federer
Roger Federer looks poised to pull out a tweener as he chases a Stan Wawrinka lob back into the deep court.
He doesn't have to endanger any future hopes of adding to his two sets of twins as the ball drifts long.
A hold to love...
Postpublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 1-0 *Federer
The concession of that third set must have been like an uppercut to the gut for Stan Wawrinka.
Well, he is bearing up OK considering.
He takes the opening game of the fourth set with a delightful get, flicking a Federer drop-shot into the open court while at full pelt.
Game and second set Nadalpublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
Nadal 6-1 6-1 Nishikori
Easy does it for Rafael Nadal over on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The defending champion moves within a set of the semi-final as he sees off Kei Nishikori 6-1 in the second. The Spaniard has only dropped two games so far today.
Game and third set Federerpublished at 15:54 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
*Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 0-0 Federer
Image source, Reuters
A second serve for Stan to look at...
but no!
He has netted his return! Federer is two sets to one to the good!
Tie-breakpublished at 15:53 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-6 (5-6) *Federer
...and another via a kicking ace.
Now though, Roger Federer has a set point on his own serve...
Tie-breakpublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
*Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-6 (4-6) Federer
One saved by Stan...
Tie-breakpublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
*Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-6 (3-6) Federer
Stan Wawrinka nicks back one of the two mini-breaks with a guts-or-glory down-the-line backhand, right out the 2015 vintage.
But Fed has three set points..
Tie-breakpublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
*Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-6 (1-5) Federer
Stan Wawrinka wrong-footed and out-foxed. A Federer forehand races away to take another point against the head. He is two mini-breaks up.
Tie-breakpublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 4 June 2019
*Wawrinka 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-6 (1-4) Federer
Image source, Reuters
Two service holds from Roger Federer, albeit with a bit of a let-off as Stan Wawrinka tugs his groundstroke wide on the second.