There’s just something about the way Jo-Wilfried Tsonga bounds around the court that tennis fans around the world love. The uninhibited joy Tsonga exudes each time he earns a win is as infectious as his smile.
Fans at the Brisbane International have been treated to a couple of Jo’s celebration specials this week and no doubt many will be hoping to see the 23-year-old Frenchman do his thing again this evening when he takes on countryman
Rachard Gasquet in the first match of the night at Pat Rafter Arena.
To this point, 25 out of the 56 main draw singles matches played have featured at least one player from the land of croissants, the Eiffel Tower and accordion-playing buskers.
But this one is special.
Tsonga and Gasquet not only carry the same passport, but they also share a deep knowledge of each other’s game. Born only 14 months apart, the two have played each other many times in practice but only four times for rankings points.
Currently the ledger is deadlocked at two matches apiece. Who will take the lead?
The lithe technician who swings his racquet with such precision he could be conducting an orchestra? Or the Muhammad Ali lookalike who inspires such passion in crowds that he seems to have the home-ground advantage everywhere he plays?
Kicking off proceedings at 11:00 am is Italy’s Sara Errani and the No.2 seed, Victoria Azarenka. Errani has been the quiet achiever of the women’s draw, despite knocking out No.4 seed Daniela Hantuchova in the opening round.
En route to the semis she has accounted for Tsvetana Pironkova and Olga Govortsova. Azarenka, however, poses a whole new set of problems.
Errani will have to bring her best game to Pat Rafter Arena if she’s to progress to the final.
Next up is Czech Radek Stepanek versus Swede Robin Soderling. Stepanek is the No.8 seed, while Soderling is the No.4 seed. Soderling holds a 4-1 head-to- head lead over Stepanek and he will be looking to move even further ahead.
The final match of the day session also has a distinctly French flavour. Amelie Mauresmo, who was clinical in her defeat of women’s No.1 seed Ana Ivanovic yesterday, confronts Marion Bartoli in yet another all-French affair at Pat Rafter Arena.
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