Thank you for following along here on VAVEL. The recap of the match will be up shortly. This is Joshua Coase saying goodbye for now!
Tsonga will go on to play Australian Omar Jasika in the second round after his four set win over Ilya Marchenko earlier on today.
The last match of the day has come to its conclusion, the match lasting just over two and a half hours.
Sealed with a cross court forehand winner, a decent victory for the Frenchman in what was a tough first round draw for both players.
Game, Set and Match Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-2.
40-15: The first is met with a third double fault from the Frenchman.
Three match points for Jo Wilfried Tsonga.
15-0: Overhead smash putaway.
Tsonga will now serve for the match.
6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 5-2: A double fault could well be the final nail in the coffin for the Cypriot.
3 break points.
0-40: And he has missed another similar backhand.
0-30: Baghdatis' game is unravelling as he misses the backhand.
0-15: Brilliant short forehand winner.
6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 4-2: Tsonga edges closer to the finishing line here on the Margaret Court Arena.
40-0: Ace number 13.
30-0: Simple putaway for the Frenchman.
15-0: Baghdatis goes long with the backhand return.
6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 3-2: A huge forehand down the line seals what could be the definitive break in this match! Tsonga now three service holds away from a place in the second round!
40-Ad: Another break point opportunity presents itself.
Deuce: Well saved again by the world number 48, with a timely one-two punch combination.
30-40: Tsonga's pass had too much venom on it, a third break point of the set for him.
30-30: A great serve and a great recovery.
15-30: The forehand breaks down again once more, dropping wide.
15-15: Baghdatis' concentration drops as he misses a rallying ball.
15-0: Error off of the return from the ninth seed.
6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 2-2: That game flew by as Tsonga holds to love.
6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 1-2: What a pivotal hold that could prove to be. Baghdatis is till alive and kicking in this first round match.
Ad-40: A chance to get out of jail here for Baghdatis.
Deuce: An exteneded rally see's the server come out on top as the ninth seed's forehand breaks down first.
30-40: One break point saved after Tsonga nets a forehand.
15-40: Real trouble here for the Cypriot after he hits an erratic forehand wide.
15-30: Baghdatis' serve is too strong for the Frenchman to return.
0-30: And he's making a move here once again.
0-15: The last time Tsonga won the opening point he broke serve.
6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 1-1: A thunderous kick serve secures what was a tricky opening service hold in set number four.
Ad-40: Tsonga fights on.
Deuce: Tsonga nets the forehand.
Ad-40: The ninth seed is resisting the pressure on serve.
Deuce: A drop shot and a lob from Baghdatis prove to be too much to handle.
40-30: Unreturnable serve.
30-30: Tsonga responds with a good backhand volley of his own.
15-30: Lovely drop volley from Baghdatis at the net.
6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 0-1: Easy hold for the world number 48.
40-15: Double fault for Baghdatis.
30-0: A bit of a lull at the start of this set as Tsonga looks disinterested in this return game.
6-4, 4-6, 6-4: Another huge serve out wide secures a pivotal third set.
Third Set Tsonga 6-4
40-30: Timely 11th ace for Tsonga. Set point.
30-30: Suddenly it's game on again!
30-15: Baghdatis' return catches the top of the tape for a dead net cord.
30-0: Tsonga really taking charge on serve now.
6-4, 4-6, 5-4: Tsonga's return is too deep for the Cypriot to return and that is the breakthrough he has been searching for!
30-40: Baghdatis is not finished yet.
15-40: Tsonga goes long on his first break point opportunity.
0-40: Excellent point from Tsonga as he takes the cross court backhand early, sterring it away for a winner.
0-30: Ominous signs as the Cypriot makes another error.
0-15: A rarety on Baghdatis' serve as he drops the opening point.
6-4, 4-6, 4-4: Tidy forehand drive volley closes out the game for Tsonga.
40-15: Third ace in the game.
30-15: Tsonga nets the forehand.
30-0: Back to back aces from the Frenchman.
6-4, 4-6, 3-4: Heading towards the business end of the third set now.
40-15: Strong serving continues from the Cypriot, one is not sure when the next opportunity is going to come along for Tsonga to break.
15-15: Tsonga is becoming increasingly frustrated with Baghdatis' antics.
15-0: It's taken a minute to complete this first point as it seems Baghdatis has the yips on serve with regards to the ball toss. He then fires an ace down the line.
6-4, 4-6, 3-3: A quickfire, powerful service hold.
40-15: Strong serve from the Frenchman.
30-0: A couple of solid approaches to the net puts Tsonga in prime position.
6-4, 4-6, 2-3: That's another comfortable hold from Baghdatis, who looks the stronger of the two players right now.
40-0: Another strong serve from the Cypriot.
30-0: Backhand from Jo goes long.
15-0: Strong one-two punch combination.
6-4, 4-6, 2-2: An ace seals the game, very even match right now.
40-30: Baghdatis frustrated with himself as he makes the error.
30-30: Tsonga under pressure once more.
30-15: Lovely approach shot and drop volley to finish from Tsonga.
15-15: Unreturnable serve.
0-15: Super forehand down the line catches the Frenchman off guard.
6-4, 4-6, 1-2: Another solid hold from the Cypriot, ever since he was broken early in the opening set he has never looked back.
40-15: Strong kick serve out wide forces Tsonga to put the return long.
30-15: Backhand error from Baghdatis.
6-4, 4-6, 1-1: Both players have began the third set with comfortable service holds.
Lovely stop volley finish at the net gets the Frenchman over the line.
First Set Tonga 6-4
Ad-40: Set point Tsonga.
Deuce: Terrific response courtesy of an ace out wide.
30-40: Second double fault of the game.
30-30: Huge point, but it's the Cypriot who makes the first error in the rally.
15-30: Tsonga hits an ace, but the call is overturned by Hawkeye, then proceeds to double fault.
15-15: Baghdatis forces the error.
15-0: Unreturnable serve.
4-5: Another easy hold from Baghdatis, pressure back on Tsonga.
40-0: Unreturnable serve.
30-0: Tsonga breaks down first in the rally.
15-0: Solid volley putaway from Baghdatis.
5-3: Big hold from the Frenchman, great atmosphere on court.
40-30: Tsonga is getting fired up as his serve is unreturned.
30-30: Kicker serve outwide is proving to be very effective.
15-30: Another unforced error brings a window of opportunity for the Cypriot.
15-15: Baghdatis retrieves the drop shot but puts it long.
0-15: Tsonga's forehand goes wide of the mark.
3-4: Lovely one-two punch combination secures the hold.
40-15: Superb forehand down the line winner.
30-15: Baghdatis' forehand breaks down.
30-0: This time the Frenchman reaches the drop shot but can't find the court.
15-0: Tsonga's backhand return once again hits the net.
4-2: Attempted drop shot from Baghdatis finds the net.
Ad-40: Smash put away at the net brings another opportunity to hold.
Deuce: Tsonga's backhand finds the net, pressure on his serve continues.
40-30: Mini crisis averted.
30-30: Slice backhand from the Frenchman goes long.
30-15: Tsonga with the first strike in the rally.
15-15: Extended rally see's Baghdatis break down first.
0-15: Error from Tsonga.
2-3: Superb hold from the 2006 runner-up.
40-0: Silky drop shot from Baghdatis, leaving the ninth seed no chance of retrieving it.
30-0: Strong backhand down the line forces Tsonga backwards.
15-0: Unforced error from the Frenchman.
3-1: Strong second serve leaves the Cypriot unable to put it back into play.
40-30: This time Tsonga's backhand can only find the net.
40-15: Lovely drop slice volley finish at the net.
30-15: Error from Baghdatis.
15-15: Tsonga forehand finds the net.
15-0: Ace down the T.
1-2: Game Tsonga, superb aggression and smash volley to secure the break. One too many questionable ball tosses on serve for Baghdatis.
40-Ad: Error from the Cypriot, first break point.
Deuce: Attempted slice volley from Baghdatis goes long.
40-30: Attempted backhand cross court pass from the Cypriot goes wide.
40-15: The ninth seed looks to inject pace into his forehand but drives it long.
30-15: Unreturnable serve.
15-15: Attempted single handed backhand return from Tsonga goes long.
0-15: Baghdatis ventures to the net but can't find the volley.
1-1: Slice serve ace outwide secures the game.
40-15: Tsonga nets the forehand.
40-0: Another strong serve from the Frenchman.
30-0: Unreturned serve.
15-0: Tsonga takes the opening point.
1-0: Baghdatis is not holding back on his first serve, another one is fired down at real pace as he holds.
Ad-40: Big serve out wide unreturned.
Deuce: Baghdatis with the forehand unforced error wide.
40-30: First ace of the match for the world number 48.
30-30: Tsonga with a fortunate net cord.
30-15: Unreturnabe serve from the Cypriot.
15-15: Double fault from Baghdatis.
15-0: Tsonga goes long with the forehand.
Both players are just completing their final warm ups in this best of five set match.
The crowd are in full voice here on the Margaret Court Arena, plenty of Cypriots supporting their man Baghdatis.
Tsonga has won the toss and elected to receive, not very often you see that in the modern game.
Players are now walking out onto court, not long until we get underway!
This will be their sixth meeting, with the Frenchman prevailing in all of the other five encounters. They last met in Miami in 2014, a match which Tsonga won in three sets.
Despite both players being around on the circuit for over a decade they have never met each other in a Grand Slam event.
This match has received big billing and has been anticipated as one of the best matches here on day 1, so let's hope we're in for treat!
As Maria Sharapova nears victory out here on Margaret Court Arena it is likely that it will not be long before the two players make their way out onto court.
Welcome back to live coverage of this Australian Open first round tie! My name is Joshua Coase, and I am happy to be bringing you point-by-point coverage of this first round clash between 9th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marcos Baghdatis here on VAVEL.
Let’s hope that this clash lives up to the billing and that Baghdatis can produce a vintage performance, with perhaps the added racket smashing incident!
Anyway, I digress. It might be a bit too early to look that far ahead, but always worth speculating. I predicted that Tsonga would be the first of the top 10 seeds to crash out in VAVEL’s predictions, but I hope he proves me wrong as he is such a great player to watch!
Round three would see a clash with compatriot Benoit Paire, seeded 17 and then a tough 4th round match against seventh seed Kei Nishikori, tough draw. I haven’t even mentioned that after all that world number one Djokovic is likely to be lying in wait come the quarterfinal stages.
Moving away from this match, in terms of assessing the 9th seeds chances of capturing a maiden Grand Slam title at this event, it looks to be a tough prospect. If he were to make it six wins out of six against Baghdatis he could well face a second round clash with Illya Marchenko, who is in good form having reached the semifinals in the season open in Doha.
The Frenchman also put in strong performances at the French Open, losing to eventual champion Stanislas Wawrinka in the semifinals and at the US Open, where he lost to defending champion Marin Cilic in the quarterfinals.
Tsonga, the former world number 5, last played on the tour at the BNP Paribas Masters, losing to Tomas Berdych in straight sets, but did enjoy a strong finish to the year having climbed back into the world’s top 10 and reaching the Shanghai Masters final in October, defeating an in form Rafael Nadal along the way.
Baghdatis, now ranked at 48 in the world, last played on the main tour at the Stockholm Open in October last year, reaching the semifinals, enjoying victories against Sam Querrey, Bernard Tomic and Gilles Muller.
Since Baghdatis reached the final here he has not enjoyed his time at Melbourne Park as much, only making it to the 4th round once since then (2009). However, he has only been defeated once in the first round here, which came back in 2014, before reaching the third round last year, bowing out in an epic five set contest against Grigor Dimitrov, 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The two players have never met at a Grand Slam event so this should be a treat! I find it hard to believe that they are both 30 years old. I see Baghdatis as being the veteran and tennis journeyman and feel like he has been around the circuit a lot longer so this was a surprise to me!
Interestingly, looking at their head-to-head it is very one-sided. Tsonga has won all five previous encounters against the Cypriot, only dropping two sets in those matches. There last meeting was back in 2014 at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami, which the Frenchman came through 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 in a hard fought victory.
What you may not have realized is that both of these players have reached the final here in Melbourne once before. Baghdatis contested his one and only Grand Slam final back in 2006, losing to Roger Federer in four sets, 7-5, 5-7, 0-6, 2-6. Meanwhile Tsonga reached his first and only final in 2008, losing to Novak Djokovic 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-7(2).
It’s finally here, the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open 2016! Let’s hope this is the kick start to a bumper two weeks and a jam packed 2016 season! One of the best looking first round clashes which promises bags of entertainment, style and flamboyancy, Tsonga takes on Baghdatis in the Australian Open.
Welcome to live coverage of this Australian Open first round tie! My name is Joshua Coase, and I am happy to be bringing you point-by-point coverage of this first round clash between 9th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marcos Baghdatis here on VAVEL. From now until the match begins at approximately 4:30 am ET, news and notes will be above to get you up to speed. Be sure to return at match time for point by point updates!