Roger Federer faces compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka in a fascinating quarter-final at the Australian Open.
Wawrinka has enjoyed a brilliant start to the year and he looks set to join his countryman Federer in the top ten sometime very soon if he continues this form. He took apart Andy Roddick in straight sets on Sunday night. Few expected it to be so one-sided but the American had no answer to Wawrinka's powerful hitting.
Roddick reckons Wawrinka has a shot in this match but the problem is that in Federer he's coming up against an opponent who can more than match him in both the offensive and defensive departments. It will be a match to savour for the purists, these are two of the most stylish players you will see on tour and some of the backhand to backhand rallies should be a joy to watch.
Federer will need to raise his game, he's done just enough against Tommy Robredo and Xavier Malisse in his last two matches but the unforced error count has been rather high and he will not be able to get away with such profligacy against Wawrinka.
Federer leads the head-to-head 6-1, winning three times in 2010 but Wawrinka gave him a bit of a scare in the last one. He led Federer by a set and a break in Stockholm before the world number two roared back to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Prediction: Federer in 4.
