Stan lets his racket speak

Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka rejoices after beating France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in their Australian Open quarterfinal match at Melbourne Park on Tuesday. [Photo/IC]

Former Aussie Open champ Stan Wawrinka engaged in a war of words with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga before winning the only argument that mattered on Tuesday, storming into the semifinals with a 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-3 win over the Frenchman.

Wawrinka bickered heatedly with the 12th seed during a change of ends after the first set before putting his aggression to better use, wrapping up the one-sided match in two hours and 15 minutes at Rod Laver Arena.

Fourth seed Wawrinka will next battle compatriot Roger Federer who beat German giant-killer Mischa Zverev.

Wawrinka, the 2014 champion, put in his most complete performance of the tournament against Tsonga, blasting 41 winners past the erratic Frenchman, a former finalist who was only a shadow of his usual energetic self.

Tsonga put up some stout resistance early in the match but that crumbled in the first-set tiebreak when he elected not to try to return a blazing backhand pass.

It landed flush in the corner, giving Wawrinka four set points and Tsonga folded on the first of them.

The pair retired to their chairs between sets and suddenly began sniping at each other.

"What did you say? You're the one looking at me and talking to me. What are you looking for?" Wawrinka barked at Tsonga in French. "Come on, let it go. Did I look at you once?"