Kei Nishikori will live to fight another day. The Japanese survived a major scare on Friday, beating Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in four tough sets to advance to the fourth round of the 2016 Australian Open. There he will meet the talented Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who booked a spot in the round-of-16 with a straight-sets win over Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
Read on below for a complete preview of this blockbuster matchup. While you’re at it, you can check out our Super Bowl 50 props update.
[sc:TennisArticles ]Kei Nishikori vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Betting Preview
Where: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
When: Sunday, January 24
Line: Kei Nishikori vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – view all Australian Open Men’s Singles lines
Betting on Kei Nishikori
Kei Nishikori will head to his fourth-round showdown with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga with momentum on his side after beating Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the round of 32 on Friday. The Japanese star edged past Garcia-Lopez in four grueling sets, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, in a match that lasted two hours and 48 minutes.
[sc:AUS15-250 ]Nishikori has been in phenomenal form in this tournament as he has dropped just one set in this year’s event. Through the first three rounds, Nishikori is averaging a whopping 36 winners per match. He will need to limit his miscues, though, if he is to go deep in this event. He incurred more errors than winners (38 to 33) in his third-round win against Garcia-Lopez.
That being said, he will fancy his chances against Tsonga as he has gotten the better of the Frenchman in their most recent meetings. Nishikori is 4-2 against Tsonga in their last six matches with the 2014 US Open finalist winning four of their five meetings on the hard surfaces. Nishikori defeated Tsonga in their lone showdown in the Australian Open back in 2012, winning in five sets, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
Nishikori is 6-4 in his last 10 matches.
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Betting on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga barged into the fourth round of the Australian Open with a solid 6-4, 7-6(7), 7-6(4) victory over Pierre-Hugues Herbert on Monday. It was an impressive performance from the 30-year-old who needed just two hours and 12 minutes to oust his French compatriot.
Tsonga, who recorded his first victory against Herbert, blasted 46 winners and committed just 19 unforced errors. What proved to be the difference in the contest, though, was his excellent serve. Tsonga won 89 percent of his first serve points on Friday. Tsonga has been dominant on serve through his first three matches here at Melbourne Park, winning 82 percent of his first serve points in this tournament thus far.
Things are bound to get tougher, though, for Tsonga as standing in his way in the next round is the seventh seed Kei Nishikori. He is 2-4 in his career against Nishikori. Tsonga will take comfort in the fact, however, that he defeated Nishikori in an epic five-setter at the French Open last year. For Tsonga to duplicate that feat this coming weekend, he needs to improve on his erratic return play. He won just 33 percent of his receiving points in the third round against Herbert.
Tsonga is 7-3 in his last 10 matches.
Writer’s Prediction
Tsonga edges past Nishikori in an epic five-set thriller.
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