Havoc has been wreaked throughout the Australian Open draw, but two unsurprising quarterfinals have managed to set up a Tuesday showdown. Former champion Stan Wawrinka will battle former runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for a spot in the last four.
Stan Wawrinka and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be squaring off for the eighth time in their careers and for the first time since the spring of 2015 when they battle for a semifinal spot at the Australian Open on Tuesday.
Wawrinka has won three in a row at Tsonga’s expense to take a 4-3 lead in the head-to-head series. The Swiss prevailed 6-2, 6-7(9), 6-4 four years ago in Madrid, in a four-set Davis Cup final rubber in 2014, and via a 6-3, 6-7(1), 7-6(3), 6-4 decision in the 2015 French Open semis. Tsonga last defeated Wawrinka 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the 2013 Monte-Carlo Masters.
As usual, Wawrinka is heating up step by step at a Grand Slam. The world No. 4 needed five sets to survive his opener against Martin Klizan before dropping only one set in his next three matches combined–wins over Steve Johnson, Viktor Troicki, and Andreas Seppi. Wawrinka is through to the quarterfinals in Melbourne for the fourth time in his career and he has advanced even farther twice (2014 champion, 2015 semifinals).
Tsonga punched his ticket to the last eight by defeating Thiago Monteiro, Dusan Lajovic, Jack Sock, and Dan Evans. The 12th-ranked Frenchman rolled over Monteiro and Lajovic in straight sets before beating both Sock and Evans in four. This is Tsonga’s fifth trop to the Aussie Open quarters and first since 2013.
“Tsonga (has) always been there,” Wawrinka noted. “Always been around the top 10. He was No. 5 in the world. He made the final here. He (has) made the semifinal in each Grand Slam. It’s going to be just an interesting match.”
With Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray having shockingly exited the tournament in a three-day span during the first week, Wawrinka is now arguably the title favorite. Based on the fact that he is a three-time major champ and boasts a 3-0 record in slam finals, it is safe to say Wawrinka thrives on pressure–and the favorite status certainly applies pressure. Look for the third seed to raise his level even higher than it was against Seppi in order to successfully combat Tsonga.
Pick: Wawrinka in 4
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Wawrinka in 4
Good to see a few tipping Tsonga. Possible.
Would also go Stan in 4 sets here, think he has got better with each round and that back hand is starting to catch fire more and more
Big Jo will definitely make this an interesting battle though, of that there is no doubt, wont be a cake walk, even a possibility of an upset
If it was Wimbledon then probably Tsonga but not on this surface.
Wawrinka will have Fed in his mind also so should put on a clinic.
Stan in four
I’ve got Stan in 5. This should be the match of the day.
Unable to watch the match but from the scores, Stan is already two sets up! Is he that good or is Tsonga that bad?
Stan is playing well. It’s been a solid showing from both but Stan has played the big points better and has overall had the upper hand in extended rallies especially backhand to backhand.
Ok thanks for the info. And now Stan won in straight sets. Stan really lives up to expectations, i.e. he’ll play better and better nearing or at the business end. He’s the big match player.