Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Stan Wawrinka play down heated exchange

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Stan Wawrinka have both said that there are no lingering issues from their on-court exchange during the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.

The two had an argument following the first set. Wawrinka asking Tsonga what he said, and the Frenchman responded, "It's you who's looking at me and talking to me.” The two exchanged more words before Wawrinka said, "It's a tennis match. Relax, a bit."

"I was very frustrated," said Tsonga, who had just dropped the first set. "I said something under my breath. He asked me what I said. I replied."

Tsonga indicated that he would have preferred not to have done it.

"It's an insignificant exchange, and I don't think there was necessarily reason for it,” he told French reporters. “But in the heat of the moment, you're not always lucid. It's part of the game. It's not important.

"The match finished, [and] we shook hands."

Wawrinka also played down the conversation.

"These are things that happen during a match where there is tension,” the Swiss said. “But now everything is fine.”

Wawrinka won the match in straight sets, and will play countryman Roger Federer in the semifinals.