Previewing Tuesday's Australian Open QFs
Previewing Tuesday's Australian Open QFs
Will Stan The Man take the battle of big hitters against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga? Can Roger wind back the clock once more and play vintage Federer tennis against his old-school foe, Mischa Zverev, who will try to keep points as precise as possible?
Tuesday’s Australian Open quarter-final match-ups should feature two very different but equally as intriguing contests for fans. They’ll also feature a bit of history. For only the second time in the Open Era, all eight Grand Slam quarter-finalists have lost two or more sets before their last-eight match-ups. The last time that happened was almost 45 years ago, at the 1972 US Open.
No. 4 Stan Wawrinka (SUI) v No. 12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
FedEx ATP Head2Head: Wawrinka leads 4-3
In the first quarter-final on Rod Laver Arena, third seed Stan Wawrinka will try to reach the Australian Open semi-finals for the third time, all of which have come since 2014, when he won the Melbourne title for his first Grand Slam triumph.
Wawrinka has won four of his seven match-ups against Tsonga during their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry, including all three of their Grand Slam meetings. But the trio of Grand Slam contests have come on clay in Paris, and the two haven’t met on a hard court in 10 years (Metz, 2007).
“It’s going to be just an interesting match,” Wawrinka said after rattling off some of Tsonga’s second-week experience at the Aussie Open.
The 31-year-old Frenchman reached the semi-finals in 2010. He played in the last four in 2008 en route to his only Australian Open final, when he lost to Novak Djokovic. Tsonga will also be seeking personal revenge against Wawrinka as he’s lost their past three meetings.
“It’s going to be a good challenge,” Tsonga said. “He’s playing really good. It’s going to be important for me… to play my best level. I think I will be ready.”
No. 17 Roger Federer (SUI) v Mischa Zverev (GER)
FedEx ATP Head2Head: Federer leads 2-0
The second quarter-final on Rod Laver Arena will likely feature more precision than power when Roger Federer takes on the veteran Mischa Zverev. Federer has surprised nearly everyone, including himself, with his four-match win streak in Melbourne, a run that’s included two Top 10 wins (Berdych, Nishikori). The Swiss icon is going for his 13th Australian Open semi-final, which would extend his Open-Era record of 12.
The 35 year old has beaten Zverev during both of their FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings, but the two haven’t played since 2013 – Federer won 6-0, 6-0 in Halle – and Zverev is producing the best tennis of his career right now. On Sunday, the left-hander upset top seed Andy Murray, charging the net 118 times and winning more than half of those points. Before that match, Murray had won 30 of his past 31 contests.
“He’s feeling great. Probably feels the best he’s ever felt on a tennis court. That’s how I would feel after the win… against Murray,” Federer said. “It’s going to be tough and different and tricky. That’s my mindset.”
Read More: 10 Things To Know About Zverev
The German shouldn’t feel any pressure during the quarter-final match. Two years ago, he was ranked No. 1,067 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, and, by reaching the quarter-finals in Melbourne, he’s already achieved his best result at a Grand Slam. “Definitely the best match of my life,” he said after beating Murray.
Many fans have latched on to Zverev’s comeback story. But there’s little doubt Federer, who’s going for his 18th Grand Slam title, will still be the crowd favourite.
“I’ve been always super welcomed here,” Federer said. “I think it helps to come back here for almost the 20th year now. They got to know me. I had a chance to speak to them in the post match or in the press. Got to meet a lot of people playing in this country. It clearly has been a benefit.”