Fourth seed and 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka outlasted a dissapointing Jo-Wilfred Tsonga 7-6(2) 6-4 6-3 to reach the last four in Melbourne.
Just like the previous seven meetings, this match contained a tight opening set with both men feeling their way into this match. Tsonga going for too much power in the opening moments, which resulted in unnecessary errors. Whereas Wawrinka was looking to slice the ball too often and using that to set up his big one handed backhand, which didn’t often pay off. During the first set both men had tight service games but neither could break the server. Half of the 12 service games went to 40-30 or Deuce which shows you how tight the opening set was and how there was little margin for error. If it wasn’t for a spectacular reflex half-volley from Tsonga at 5-5, Wawrinka would have had a chance to break the Frenchman’s serve. However no break points were created, so the first set resulted in a tiebreak.
The 2014 champion was 4-0 in tiebreakers at this year’s Australian Open, while Tsonga was 1-3. The Swiss’ confidence in these tiebreakers would prove pivotal as Wawrinka would use his confidence to overpower his opponent in the tiebreak. A misfiring forehand from Tsonga allowed the fourth seed to grab the first set 7-6(2).
The second set had an edge to it, with Tsonga seemingly frustrated at the way the first set ended he began the second set with purpose to his play. As a result he created the first break points of the match in the third game, however the three time grand slam champion remained firm. Tsonga was valiant and showed more risk taking, and in the seventh game, he was rewarded a break point after a bizarre volley from Wawrinka. The 12th seed wasn’t to be denied and took the first break of the match to lead 4-3.
However this didn’t last long as Tsonga lost his focus and all concentration, as a result Wawrinka broke straight back. The momentum had swung and in the tenth game, Wawrinka created set points to go two sets to love up and an unforced forehand error from the Frenchman sealed the second set from Wawrinka 6-4.
The third set saw a dominant performance from Wawrinka as he got the early break in the second game and the fourth seed raced into a 3-0 lead. An unenthusiastic Tsonga had nothing else to offer, so Wawrinka used his power and tennis IQ to hold and serve out the match 7-6(2) 6-4 6-3 in 2 hours and 17 minutes.
Wawrinka played a really solid match and showed that he has what it takes to win a fourth major title. The win sealed a milestone for Wawrinka, his 250th win on a hard court. For Tsonga, it was a Dissapointing and unenthusiastic performance who had an incentive to win his first major as the two major obstacles of Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are out. However the ‘nearly’ man of tennis once again proved that he hasn’t got the right mindset to win his first grand slam.
Wawrinka has now reached his 8th Australian Open semifinal and will now play either Mischa Zverev or Roger Federer in the last four.
