ICYMI
Rod Laver says it's time to stop focusing on Nick Kyrgios and start concentrating on young locals "keen to play" https://t.co/ZwNAJlP2Ue
— The Age Sport (@theagesport) January 24, 2017
Wawrinka cruises past Tsonga 7-6 6-4 6-3
All in all, a very disappointing quarter final.
In just 2:15, Wawrinka has eased past a lacklustre Tsonga - who barely fired a shot - in straight sets to cement a spot in the semi finals.
After a tight (and boring) first set, which Wawrinka won in a breaker (7-2), the Swiss champion was just far too strong from the baseline.
14 more winners and 11 fewer unforced errors were the big stats of the match, and Stan won all three of his break point opportunities.
The strong likelihood is that Wawrinka will play his countryman and close friend Roger Federer on Rod Laver Arena on Thursday night.
"In case I play Roger, it's going to be tough to have some fans but hopefully some cheer for me," Wawrinka smiled during his on-court interview with Channel 7's Jim Courier.
Just quietly - Stan is at least close to his 8th major final. That's some effort.
Stan one game away
JSW had another chance to claw back into the match with a break point opportunity at 4-2 but two big serves from Stan got him out of trouble, and now Tsonga is serving to stay in the match at 2-5.
Wawrinka running away with it
Panic stations now for JWS.
After the epic first game of the third set where he had two opportunities to break Wawrinka's serve, the wind has been taken out of his sails and Stan has taken full advantage.
Now leads 3-0 in the third. It could be over very quickly.
ICYMI
This is the incident we were discussing earlier, where Wawrinka nearly hit a ball kid...
Stan Wawrinka has kept his Focus . Stan Wawrinka leads 7-6, 6-4. Wow Wawrinka almost hits ball boy pic.twitter.com/jVHupOIVV4
— Mo Tafolla (@MoTafolla) January 24, 2017
Epic first game of third set
Including four deuces and two break points, both of which Wawrinka saved.
Stan holds and leads two sets to love and 1-0 in the third.
Ball kid nearly gets hit...
Ok, that could have been nasty.
After hitting a ball long and Tsonga returning it, Wawrinka hits a forehand in frustration back over the net. Little did he know, a ball kid had already started making their way back to the umpire's side of the court. Ball missed his head by a matter of inches.
Stan instantly put his hand up to apologise. Honest mistake, but we have already seen a junior instantly disqualified for hitting a ball that made contact with a ball kid.
No damage done.
Wawrinka takes out second set 6-4
Well, that escalated quickly.
After a tight and relatively boring first set, the second set had three breaks of serve and sees Wawrinka now in a dominant position with a 2-0 lead.
Tsonga isn't playing badly but he does look a bit flat.
Wawrinka 29 winners to 17 probably the difference.
Long way back here for JWS.
Previous run in between these two
So, after having seen the verbal stoush after the first set, it seems these two may have a history.
Accoridng to French magazine L'Equipe, Wawrinka is said to have offended the French Davis Cup team when he beat Tsonga back in 2014.
What was originally believed to be a relatively benign comment wasn't taken well by the French team.
"I thought I was the stronger player on the court. I'm not No. 4 for nothing," Wawrinka said after the win.
Apparently, it lead to members of the French team having a go at Stan outside the bathroom at the official dinner later that night.
wouldn't you know it
Stan breaks back straight away ... to love.
18 games without a break and suddenly two breaks in a row! Go figure.
Back to topTsonga gets a break
A poor service game from Wawrinka at 3-3 has seen the Swiss champion being broken for the first time today.
It must be said, Tsonga could almost be considered the better player so the break is well deserved.
The Frenchman leads 4-3 in the second.
Game on!
Well, we were looking for a spark...
After what can only be described as a dire first set, in which Wawrinka won in a tie-break (2), things got pretty interesting as players walked to their chairs.
Stan, obviously believing Tsonga was eye-balling him, said "Was I looking at you? Did I look at you once? Relax it's just a tennis match".
Finally, some spice!
Not bad from Ronny...
Wawrinka is the tiebreak whisperer #AusOpen
— Ronny Lerner (@RonnyLerner) January 24, 2017
Wawrinka takes first set
Well, it took 12 games and six points into the breaker, but we have our first bit of audio from the players!
Stan gives a massive come-on as he belts a forehand winner down the line, followed by an equally impressive backhand cross-court winner.
Wawrinka takes the breaker 7-2 to keep up his amazing tie-break record at Melbourne Park.
Thank goodness that first set is over!
6-6
And we're off to a breaker!
It will be Stan's 5th consecutive - he's won the last 4. In actual fact, he's won 13 of 14 tie-breaks here at the Australian Open.
That's some record!
Back to top4-4 first set
Jim Courier: "Can someone throw a racquet or fist pump or something? This is a quarter final, gentleman!"
Channel 7 commentary currently more exciting than the match so far.
I'm being mischievous, but it's not an inaccurate comment.
Jim Courier agrees...
Well, I did say it was a "fairly lacklustre" contest so far. It seems Channel 7's Jim Courier thinks the same!
"This has been a snooze-fest so far. It's time to click the lights on and get going."
Great minds...
2-2
After Tsonga received two gifts off the backhand of Wawrinka, the Frenchman had 0-30. But Stan fought back to hold.
Still a fairly lacklustre contest thus far. Can only get better!
1-1 first set
Pretty tame start to this one.
Tsonga serves first and holds to love, Wawrinka would've also held to love but snuck in a double fault.
1-1. Rod Laver bathing in sunshine with the roof open, a very comfortable 20 degrees in Melbourne.
Righto, here we go.
Gearing up for what should be a massive quarter final between Stan and Jo-Wilfred.
They've met seven times before and three times at slams - all at the French Open. Wawrinka holds a 4-3 overall record.
Tsonga has been playing brilliant tennis in the last ten days and has only been broken three times all tournament.
Despite that, Wawrinka goes in warm favourite. Should be a belter.
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