Summary Wawrinka is now the main Swiss contender at this year's Open.
MELBOURNE (AFP) - Defending champion Stan Wawrinka reached the fourth round of the Australian Open with a straight sets win over Finland s Jarkko Nieminen on Saturday.
The Swiss fourth seed cruised through 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in 1hr 49min on Rod Laver Arena and will play Spain s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the round of 16.
Wawrinka was always in control of his first match with the 72nd-ranked Finn in four years and broke Nieminen s serve six times and hit 55 winners.
Wawrinka, who is now the main Swiss contender at this year s Open following Roger Federer s shock defeat to Andreas Seppi on Friday, was pleased with his progress at the tournament.
"I m really happy with my game so far, I think today was a really good match," he said.
"I was aggressive on the court, it was in quite fast conditions and I took control of the match.
"It s been three really good matches, I think my game is there and I m really happy to get through again."
Wawrinka said he was looking forward to playing Garcia-Lopez after a "tough loss" to him in the fourth round at last year s French Open.
