Roger Federer will continue his quest for a fifth title in Melbourne as he takes the court on Wednesday. Up next for Federer is a quarterfinal showdown with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be facing each other for the 12th time in their careers when they collide in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open on Wednesday night.
Federer leads the head-to-head series 8-3, including 7-2 on hard courts and 2-1 at Grand Slams. Tsonga beat Federer twice in 2011 (including a comeback from two sets down at Wimbledon), but the Swiss won four straight to end that year (including twice at the World Tour Finals).
For the moment, Federer is playing like he has absolutely no interest in having the tables turned on him, like they were at the All-England Club. The world No. 2 has not dropped a set through four matches this fortnight, easily dispatching Benoit Paire, Nikolay Davydenko, Bernard Tomic, and Milos Raonic. Federer is aiming for his fifth Australian Open title, which would be his first since 2010.
Federer-Raonic highlights:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A6JcW8Dv4Y]
A slimmed-down Tsonga was on display at the Kooyong Classic earlier this month, but this is his first meaningful action of the season. So far, the eighth-ranked Frenchman has not disappointed. He opened with straight-set dismissals of Michael Llodra, Go Soeda, and Blaz Kavcic before taking care of Richard Gasquet in four on Monday.
Tsonga-Gasquet highlights:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu3G8O0afMQ]
“I lost many times against this guy,” the underdog said of Federer. “So, of course, playing against him it’s going to be a big challenge for me. I think when I play against him, you need a plan because if you just play like this with him, you will lose for sure.”
Whatever “this” is, it’s something that has rarely worked for Tsonga in the past. The No. 7 seed must serve huge, finish points early when he gets forehand opportunities, and his backhand has to be in rare form. Even if all of that happens, Tsonga also needs Federer to cool off in a hurry.
Pick: Federer 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-3
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