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 Andy Murray, who beat Djokovic in the Rogers Cup final on Sunday and
moved up to second in the world rankings, had a tough second round
outing against Mardy Fish but came through 6-4 7-6(1), while Rafa
Nadal also advanced after beating Jeremy Chardy.
French Open champion Wawrinka said he had yet to receive an apology
from Nick Kyrgios for the Australian's incendiary comment during
their match last week.
Kyrgios, 20, drew the ire of the tennis world in Montreal after he
insulted Wawrinka at the Rogers Cup, saying that another Australian
player, Thanasi Kokkinakis, had slept with Wawrinka's girlfriend.
Though Kyrgios later apologized via Twitter for his comments, he was
slapped with two separate fines by the ATP who also raised the
possibility the Australian could be suspended.
Wawrinka did not hear the comment at the time, only learning later
that it had been audible on television. He admitted after his
victory on Wednesday that the past week had been difficult.
"For the past few days for sure my head was not really into the
tennis," Wawrinka told Sky Sports television after his 3-6 7-6(3)
6-3 win over Croatian teen Coric.
"What happened people don't see exactly what the consequences are
for everybody so I'm trying to put away.
"Today I'm happy with the way I fight. I was playing really bad
tennis but most important is the win."
Wawrinka was then asked if he was happy with the way that Kyrgios,
who lost his opening match in Cincinnati, had apologized for the
incident.
"He didn't apologize so no, but I prefer not to talk about him,
thank you," said Wawrinka.
SLIPPERY FISH
Top seed Djokovic cruised through his opener against Benoit Paire,
beating the Frenchman 7-5 6-2 to set up a third-round clash with
Belgian 13th seed David Goffin.
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Murray, who ended an eight-match, 25-month drought against the Serb
on Sunday in Montreal, was given a thorough test by the 33-year-old
Fish, who has said he will retire after the Aug. 31-Sept. 13 U.S.
Open.
After taking the first set 6-4, Murray let frustration creep into
his game and he smashed his racquet after being broken in the 11th
game of the second set, which gave the American the chance to serve
out to even the match.
Murray broke right back, however, then dominated the tiebreak to
close the match out after midnight.
"I forgot how tricky Mardy was to play against," Murray said after
improving his career record to 5-4 against Fish.
"He takes the ball incredibly early and the ball comes off his
racquet so quick sometimes. I found it very tough ... I didn't feel
that confident striking the ball, which is quite different to last
week,"
Eighth seed Nadal, swept aside by Kei Nishikori in the Rogers Cup
quarters, beat Frenchman Chardy 6-3 6-4. The Spaniard showed some
positive signs of returning to form but still had to stave off nine
break points.
"I am working very hard to find my best game again," said Nadal, who
has been hampered by a string of injuries over the past couple of
years.
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina, and Tim Wharnsby
in Toronto. Editing by Frank Pingue and Peter Rutherford)
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