Roger Federer will look to continue his serene-enough passage at the wonderfully serene side of the draw when the Swiss master runs up against his compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka in the French Open quarterfinals.
Federer negotiated a potentially-difficult opponent in Gael Monfils in the fourth round, dropping the second set before easing to a four-set victory. Up against a partisan crowd, Federer, coming back after rain had delayed the encounter by a day, showed all his experience and class to see off the mercurial Frenchman 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
"I was moving well and dictating [the match]," Federer was quoted as saying by the French Open's official website. "It gave me the belief that I was doing the right things if only I could knock off those higher volleys. Everything worked out very well and I'm still physically fresh for the back end of the tournament."
This match in the quarterfinals will be a little bit more difficult, considering Wawrinka is seeded eighth and a former Grand Slam winner.
Federer has a better overall record over Wawrinka, the man known as Stan, but, on his day, the latter is more than capable of stopping any player.
"I'm realistic. I know there is a chance [of making the final]," said Federer who is on the side of the draw that does not have Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray. "At the same time, I know how hard it is.
"It really means a lot to me to be back in the quarters. I will pull out all the stops to advance to the next round. If don't make it, I will be very happy for Stan."
Wawrinka will have the big advantage of an extra day's rest, after he completed his fourth round match against Gilles Simon on Sunday before the rain came. Wawrinka was at his fluent best as well in that match, cruising to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory.
The other men's singles quarterfinal on Tuesday will be between one of the favourites for the title – Kei Nishikori – and home favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Nishikori has been quite impressive this year at Roland Garros, but he will be seriously put to the test in this quarterfinal, against a player who lives for the big moments and a crowd who will be baying for his blood.
"I think to be in quarterfinal was the first goal for these two weeks," the US Open 2014 finalist said after waltzing past Teymuraz Gabashvili. "I knew I can do this because I was doing well this clay court season. I hope it's just the start of my journey, and I hope I can keep going.
"This is first time in quarterfinal in French Open, so it means a lot for me."
Tsonga certainly comes with more experience, but his hit-and-miss nature could go against him, especially when up against a player who has really come into his own over the past 12 months.
If Tsonga produces the kind of game that he put out against Tomas Berdych in the previous round, though, the home crowd might just have a player to cheer for in the semifinals.
"I'm feeling good," Tsonga said. "I'm playing good tennis. I'm solid. When I play my best tennis, I know I'm able to beat many guys. I always believed in me and try to be really consistent in my head.
"Sometimes your body is not right. Sometimes you don't have enough tennis. So you never know. I have people around me who stay positive for me, and they help me to never give up. That's why I'm happy, because the confidence is back."
Where to Watch Live
French Open Men's Singles Quarterfinals is scheduled to start after the two women's singles quarterfinals in the two show coourts. The women's action in both Philippe Chatrier and Suzanne Lenglen will begin at 5.30 pm IST (2 pm CET, 12 pm BST, 7 am ET). Live coverage of the two quarterfinal matches in India will be on Neo Sports and Neo Prime.
US viewers can catch the matches live on NBC Sports and ESPN, with the options to live stream are on NBC Live Extra and Watch ESPN.
Viewers in the UK can watch Roger Federer vs Stanislas Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Live on ITV or ITV Player, while audience in rest of Europe can go to Eurosport or Eurosport Player.
Audience in Australia can watch all the French Open action on Fox Sports, while the matches can also be live streamed on Foxtel Play. To listen to the matches via radio, listeners across the world can try Roland Garros Radio.
