MARSEILLE, France (AP) -- Top-seeded Stan Wawrinka hit 49 winners and saved two match points to reach the quarterfinals of the Open 13 in a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (8) win over Sergiy Stakhovsky on Wednesday.
The defending French Open champion was on the verge of defeat in the tiebreak but hit two big serves to stay in the match, and then sealed his win on his second match point with a backhand passing shot.
The fourth-ranked Swiss, who was beaten by Stakhovsky in Marseille last year, played his first match since losing in the Australian Open round of 16 to Milos Raonic.
Next up for Wawrinka will be either eighth-seeded Benoit Paire or qualifier Vincent Millot.
Sixth-seeded David Goffin also advanced to the quarterfinals when Mischa Zverev retired with the Belgian leading 6-1, 2-0.