Gael Monfils takes on Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka in the night match on day five of the Australian Open.
As far as off seasons go, Wawrinka's could hardly have been more turbulent. The clean cut world number 19 caused a storm in the Swiss press by suddenly leaving his partner and mother of their young daughter and announcing his intention to devote himself entirely to tennis over the next five years. The Olympic gold medallist (in doubles with Roger Federer) believes he has unfinished business at the Grand Slams and he's looked in pretty good shape so far this year.
He played some stellar tennis to win the Chennai title and has cruised past Teimuraz Gabashvili and the highly rated Grigor Dimitrov so far this week.
Monfils has looked considerably rusty, coming from two sets to love down against Thiemo De Bakker in the opening round. He's a fan favourite at the Australian Open having lit up the night sessions in the past with his exuberant antics and explosive tennis but the Frenchman may finally have to curb his liking for full-length dives due to ongoing knee problems.
Monfils leads 2-1 on the head-to-head and won 6-2, 6-4 in Valencia back in the autumn but it is Wawrinka who is the man in form and the Swiss should make the fourth round.
