Former Australian Open finalist – Jo Wilfried Tsonga is all set to battle old friend Richard Gasquet in the fourth round of the Australian Open. The World No.8 has looked in great shape since the start of the New Year, and is playing with a renewed zeal and vigor.

Tsonga is one of the most dangerous players on the ATP tour, and is considered a huge theat at every Grand Slam event. It is however the consistency that the 27 year-old seems to lack, Tsonga has been a there or thereabout in the Top 5 of tennis for the past few seasons, and he comes into the 2013 season looking to restore parity and get back into that elite group. That quest to get into the top 5 starts here, where he lost at this stage in 2012. In his first three matches Tsonga hasn’t dropped a set, and looked in unbelievable form especially against Blaz Kavcic in the third round.

At the other side of the net, Richard Gasquet has been in stunning form since the start of the year. He is one of the few people on the tour who already have a title to their name this year, and the Frenchman won that title in Doha earlier in the month. Gasquet has a 8-0 win-loss record so far and ha just dropped one set in the tournament so far.

Head-to-head, Gasquet leads Tsonga 4-3 but their last match came back in 2009.

TennisEarth picks a tough win for Tsonga here.