Australian Open Betting / Ralph Ellis / 26 January 2010 / 1

With a new Babolat racquet adding extra power to his game, the Frenchman could be the man to back in Wednesday's repeat of the 2008 Australian Open final.

Ever bought a new set of golf clubs with scientific grooves to make the ball fly further? Or a new cricket bat that's triple sprung and designed with a bigger sweet spot for cover driving? Or even football boots with kangaroo leather and a soft patch to enhance your control? Then you'll know that wonderful feeling of confidence that comes with the belief that your latest piece of equipment is going to transform your game.

Of course, in the real world it doesn't take long before it's all back down to your own ability - or lack of it. But for a few weeks there's a wonderful feeling that you have suddenly stepped up a gear and your true potential has been unleashed.

That's the feeling that Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be thriving on just now, as he faces up to his Australian Open quarter-final in the early hours of tomorrow against Novak Djokovic. Melbourne is the tournament where the Frenchman feels best anyway - it's where he reached his one previous Grand Slam final two years ago. It's also where he lost to Djokovic in the final. But when he's looking for reasons to believe he can overturn that result, the answer will be in his hand - his brand new, French made Babolat racquet.

Tsonga switched from Wilson from January 1 this year, following Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick to the emerging manufacturer. In an era when Nike and Adidas dominate the tennis equipment scene, the French company have been shoving their way into the market. Founded by Pierre Babolat in 1875 when he invented gut strings, they only started producing racquets as well as strings in 1994. Now they have specially strung his Aero Pro Drive to suit his aggressive game. Tsonga has been singing its praises to the French media since the start of the tournament, and the confidence has been reflected in his play.

"I feel as if there is more power in my hand," he has said. "I feel strong and good and ready to play anybody."

Third seed Djokovic is not surprisingly [1.48] favourite to go through, and [3.2] to do it in straight sets. But given the growing confidence of the 24-year-old Frenchman there's value in laying one or both of those bets. He's even seen having to work his way through a five-set match against Nicolas Almagro of Spain as a positive - it was the first time he'd ever played a match that went the distance. Far from worrying about what the marathon that went to 9-7 in the last might have taken out of him in stamina terms, he reckoned it was a boost to his fitness to know he could slug out that sort of a contest.

Of course, as we all know, ultimately it's the player and not the equipment who wins or loses. But little things can make a big difference, especially in the mind. And I just fancy Tsonga, as he did in 2008 when he wiped away Rafael Nadal in straight sets in the semi-final, could be ready to produce the first really big upset of the tournament.

Five things you might not know about Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

1. Born in Le Mans in 1985, his dad Didier was a professional handball player from Brazzaville in the Congo who now works as a chemistry teacher

2. Doctors told him in 2004 he should quit the sport because of a herniated disc injury in his shoulder

3. His proudest possession is a set of photos taken by his dad of The Rumble in the Jungle when Muhammad Ali fought George Foreman in Kinshasa

4. He won a first round tie-break against Andy Roddick in the 2007 Australian Open by 20-18, sharing the record for the longest tie-break in the game's history

5. Wigan defender Charles N'Zogbia is his second cousin

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1. Dex | 26 January 2010

   Djokovic - Tsonga 3:0 6:3 7:5 7:5

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