Another all-Swiss showdown between Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka is set for Tuesday at Roland Garros. Kei Nishikori and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are also battling for a semifinal spot.
(8) Stan Wawrinka vs. (2) Roger Federer
Federer and Wawrinka will be squaring off for the 19th time in their careers when they clash in the French Open quarterfinals on Tuesday. The head-to-head series stands at a dominant 16-2 in favor of Federer, but it is a more even 4-2 on clay. Wawrinka’s wins have both come in Monte-Carlo; 6-4, 7-5 in 2009 and 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 in last season’s title match. Federer, however, restored order to the proceedings in their three most recent matches. The 33-year-old Swiss prevailed 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4 in the Wimbledon quarters, survived a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(6) thriller at the World Tour Finals, and coasted 6-4, 6-2 earlier this spring in Rome.
Neither man has been severely tested this fortnight. Federer has advanced with victories over Alejandro Falla, Marcel Granollers, Damir Dzumhur, and Gael Monfils–dropping just one set to Monfils in the process. They had to complete their match on Monday because of darkness but Federer wasted little time sealing the deal in sets three and four. Wawrinka booked his spot in the last eight by taking out Marsel Ilhan, Dusan Lajovic, Steve Johnson, and Gilles Simon. The world No. 9’s last seven sets have ended 6-3, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4, and 6-2. Nonetheless, it is hard to see Wawrinka turning in yet another outstanding performance. His inconsistency throughout 2015 and his past futility against Federer cannot inspire confidence.
Pick: Federer in 4
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(5) Kei Nishikori vs. (14) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Not too much unlike Wawrinka, Tsonga seems to be peaking in Paris. The injury-plagued Frenchman had been just 6-5 on the season prior to this fortnight mainly because of an arm issue. But he is picking up the pace in front of his home fans, whom he treated to a semifinal showing in 2013. Tsonga’s trek through the draw includes defeats of Christian Lindell, Dudi Sela, Pablo Andujar, and Tomas Berdych with the loss of just one set to Berdych.
Similar to Wawrinka (although to a much lesser extent), the world No. 15 is now running into a relative nemesis. Nishikori leads the head-to-head series against Tsonga 4-1 after scoring a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 victory in this same city last fall (at the BNP Paribas Masters). They have never faced each other on clay, which should favor Nishikori–whereas grass, for example, may give an edge to Tsonga. An in-form world No. 5 is 34-7 on the season with straight-set wins this fortnight at the expense of Paul-Henri Mathieu, Thomaz Bellucci, and Teymuraz Gabashvili. Nishikori also got a walkover past Benjamin Becker in the third round. He is well-rested, supremely confident, and should be able to withstand Tsonga’s power on a somewhat slow surface.
Pick: Nishikori in 4
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