Ex-runner up Tsonga advances at Australian

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Seventh-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga moved through to the third round at the Australian Open with a 6-3, 7-6 (1), 6-3 victory over

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was the runner-up at the 2008 Australian Open :: Greg Baker/AP

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Seventh-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga moved through to the third round at the Australian Open with a 6-3, 7-6 (1), 6-3 victory over Japan's Go Soeda on Thursday.

Tsonga, the Australian Open runner-up in 2008, has reached at least the third round in his last 18 Grand Slam appearances.

The Frenchman lost in the fourth round here last year to another Japanese player, Kei Nishikori.

Tsonga could meet ninth-seeded countryman Richard Gasquet in the fourth round this year and Roger Federer in the quarterfinals.