Andy Murray v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Preview.

 

The second Wednesday of Wimbledon is always the men’s quarter finals. This year, Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will compete for a place in the last four. Murray has played some flawless tennis at this year’s championships and is backed as a firm favourite. However, it would be unfair to write Tsonga off completely, the acrobatic Frenchman is more than capable of pulling off an upset.

Murray has failed to drop a set so far, playing some great tennis on the way. In the first round the Scot brushed aside a young Liam Broady. Despite Broady offering some resistance to Murray, the Englishman failed to match the standard Murray was at, and lost in straight sets (6-2 6-3 6-4). Lu Yen-hsun was Murray’s opponent in the second round. Lu was on an eleven match winning streak before the pair met, and would have been confident of an upset. However, that was not the case as Murray took his tennis to another level and picked up the win in straight sets, (6-3 6-2 6-1). The third round saw Murray face his first Australian opponent of the tournament, John Millman. The world number 60 offered little resistance to Murray, as once again the Scot breezed through to the fourth round in straight sets, (6-3 7-5 6-2). Nick Kyrgios was awaiting Murray in the fourth round and it was sure to be an entertaining, close encounter. However, this was not the case. Despite a close first set that Murray managed to take, Kyrgios struggled to find his natural game and was dumped out in straight sets. (7-5 6-1 6-4).

Tsonga has had a tougher route to the quarter-finals, including a tight encounter against John Isner. His first round match was against Inigo Cervantes. The Frenchman proved too strong for the Spaniard, as he progressed within straight sets, (6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-4). Juan Monaco was waiting for Tsonga in the second round, beating the Argentine in straight sets to book his place in the third round, (6-1 6-4 6-3). Tsonga’s third round match is arguably the tournament’s most entertaining thus far. Isner sailed into a two set love lead and looked certain to book his place in round four. However, a spirited fightback from the Frenchman ensured that the match would be going into the fifth and final set. After over four hours on court, Tsonga emerged victorious, clinching the final set 19-17. (6-7 (7-3) 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 19-17). The fourth round saw the best ranked French players compete for a quarter-final spot against Murray. Due to unfortunate circumstances, Richard Gasquet had to retire in the first set when the score was 4-2.

Prior to this year’s championships, Tsonga is ranked 12^th in the world and has an annual record of 17-9. Although the Frenchman has failed to win any of the tournaments that he has entered this year.  Firm favourite, Murray, is ranked 2^nd and is 33-6 this year. Murray has also picked up two titles, beating Milos Raonic in the final of Queens, (6-7 (7-5) 6-4 6-3) and seeing off Novak Djokovic in the final of the ATP world tour masters 1000 Rome, (6-3 6-3).

Murray holds an impressive head to head record against his French counterpart. They have faced each other fourteen times and Murray has won twelve of them. However, Tsonga has knocked Murray out of a Grand Slam before, in the 2008 Australian Open. Despite that victory, it is clear that Tsonga does struggle against Murray, and this will be the fourth time that they have met at a grand slam. The most recent encounter being in the 2014 US Open, where Murray proved too strong for Tsonga. The pair have also met twice at Wimbledon, where Murray has beaten Tsonga on both occasions. In the 2010 quarter-finals and the 2012 semi-finals. I’m sure Tsonga will be a firm believer of third time lucky for Wednesday’s encounter.

The winner of the match will set up an exciting encounter with one of two men. The favourite to progress to the semis is Tomas Berdych. The Czech international is 9^th in the world and has an annual record of 23-12. Berdych’s opponent is Lucas Pouille. The young Frenchman has looked good so far, currently 30^th in the world. Although progressing to the quarter-finals, he has failed to find some steady form this season and will be hoping that his run through this tournament can continue, to set up an interesting semi-final with either his fellow Frenchman, or the highest seed left in this year’s championships.