Stan Wawrinka earns spot in quarters

— -- MELBOURNE, Australia -- Stan Wawrinka stayed in contention for a second consecutive Australian Open title with a 7-6 (2) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (8) win over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez on Monday to advance to the quarterfinals.

Wawrinka saved four set points in the last tiebreaker while trailing 6-2, then saved a fifth before clinching the 3-hour, 2-minute match on his second match point.

The win helped Wawrinka get some payback against Garcia-Lopez for an unwanted record. Last year at the French Open, the Spanish player beat him in the first round, making Wawrinka the first first-time major winner to lose his opening match at the subsequent Grand Slam since Lleyton Hewitt lost at the 2002 Australian Open after winning the 2001 U.S. Open.

In the quarterfinals Wawrinka will face U.S. Open finalist Kei Nishikori, who advanced on Monday with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 win over No. 9-seeded David Ferrer of Spain.

Hundreds of Japanese fans, many waving flags and some in traditional costumes, cheered Nishikori on from the stands at Rod Laver Arena.

The fifth-seeded Nishikori was a quarterfinalist here in 2012.

Nishikori held a 6-3 edge in career meetings against Ferrer coming into the match, but it was 1-1 at Grand Slam tournaments.

As an 18-year-old Nishikori beat Ferrer in the third round of the 2008 U.S. Open -- his second career major. Ferrer beat Nishikori at the Australian Open two years ago in the fourth round.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.