Headline PH: Federer faces Swiss pal Wawrinka at French Open

PARIS – Roger Federer has been an adviser, friend and Olympic doubles partner for Stanislas Wawrinka.

Now, for the first time, Federer will be his Swiss countryman's Grand Slam opponent. They'll meet Sunday in the fourth round of the French Open.

"He's really a good friend," Wawrinka said. "We know each other so well, so it's never easy to play him, especially here in French Open. But then when you go on court, you try to do your job."

Wawrinka has taken care of business at Roland Garros, reaching the round of 16 for the first time. With one more victory, he would earn his first berth in a Grand Slam quarterfinal.

A win would also end Federer's record streak of reaching the semifinals in 23 consecutive major tournaments.

"All streaks come to an end," Wawrinka said. "Sooner or later in his career, he will lose before the semifinals. But writing history, that is not my main objective."

Seeded 20th, Wawrinka earned a chance to play Federer by beating Fabio Fognini on Friday, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. Federer beat qualifier Julian Reister 6-4, 6-0, 6-4.

Also advancing were Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova and Venus and Serena Williams. Most of tennis' top players were in action because of a schedule backlog caused by rain earlier in the week.

Defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova was upset by fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. The No. 6-seeded Kuznetsova, who saved four match points in the second round, will fall out of the top 10 for the first time in four years.

"You cannot play all the time great," Kuznetsova said. "It's ups and downs. I have not been playing well this clay-court season and this season, but it happens, you know. I'll be back. I have the game. It's fine. It's just matters of time."

By STEVEN WINE,
AP Sports Writer

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