Wawrinka Dismisses Monfils; Verdasco Sets Berdych Clash

© Getty ImagesFernando Verdasco reached the Australian Open semi-finals two years ago.

Swiss No. 19 seed Stanislas Wawrinka reached the fourth round at the Australian Open for the first time on Friday evening as he dismissed 12th-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-3.

The 25-year-old Wawrinka is on an eight-match winning streak at the start of the 2011 ATP World Tour season, having won his third title at the Aircel Chennai Open (d. Malisse) two weeks ago. He will look to match his best Grand Slam result and reach the quarter-finals when he faces Andy Roddick in the next round.

Wawrinka clinched the opening set on a tie-break in his fourth meeting with Monfils, before firmly stamping his authority on the match by winning 11 of the next 15 games to take the second set and establish a 5-1 lead in the third set.

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Monfils offered late resistance, saving two match points in the seventh game before breaking Wawrinka as he served for the match. However, Wawrinka responded immediately with a service break to love to seal victory in two hours and 35 minutes, having struck 57 winners.

World No. 9 Fernando Verdasco earned his place in the fourth round as he confidently dispatched Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 in two hours. The Spaniard, who saved three match points as he came from two sets down to defeat Janko Tipsarevic in the second round, hit 36 winners to just 15 from Nishikori, and broke serve six times from 10 opportunities.

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"I think that I started the match today very, very strong,” said Verdasco. “I really wanted to start from the first point 100 per cent, like moving and hitting the ball hard. I think that I did very good my game today, and I didn't let him play his game so much. So I'm happy of how I played today and to be here in fourth round again."

The 27-year-old Verdasco achieved his best Grand Slam result to date when he reached the semi-finals in Melbourne two years ago (l. to Nadal) and will look to reach his second successive major quarter-final when he faces Tomas Berdych in the fourth round.