推 Tsonga:^^Y 02/10 09:16
Tsonga Wins Third ATP World Tour Title
c SATO/Reg Caldecott
Top seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated first-time finalist Jeremy Chardy 6-4,
7-6(5) in an all-French final at the SA Tennis Open on Sunday to win his
third ATP World Tour title. Courtesy of winning the ATP World Tour 250 tennis
tournament in Johannesburg, Tsonga collects 250 South African Airways 2009
ATP Ranking points and $79,000.
World No. 14 Tsonga was contesting his fourth ATP World Tour final. The Le
Mans native reached his first final at the 2008 Australian Open, where he
lost out to No. 3 Novak Djokovic. However, he was able to avenge that defeat
later in the season by defeating the Serbian to capture his first ATP World
Tour title at Bangkok. One month later in November he won his first ATP World
Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournament in Paris (d. Nalbandian) to clinch his
spot at Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai.
“Every time I play [ATP World Tour] finals now my level is going up and I
play great, so it is good,” said Tsonga afterwards. “I think for the first
edition it was just amazing,” added the Frenchman about the inaugural
tournament. “Everything was fine, I have nothing negative to say. The court
was perfect.”
The 23-year-old Tsonga, who raced to the Johannesburg title without the loss
of a set, made a strong start to his 2009 ATP World Tour campaign by reaching
three consecutive quarter-finals at Brisbane (l. to Gasquet), Sydney
(withdrew due to back injury against Nieminen) and the Australian Open (l. to
Verdasco). However, his South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings dropped from
No. 7 to No. 14 after his 2008 Australian Open final points dropped off.
DEUCE Magazine: The Last Time...With Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
In the first all-French ATP World Tour final since Casablanca in May 2008,
Tsonga was able to secure a one-set lead after breaking through in the 10th
game to seal it 6-4. A fifth double fault from the right-hander gave Chardy a
triple break-point chance at the start of the second set, however he was able
to recover and hold for 1-0. Tsonga was presented with his first match point
with Chardy serving at 4-5, but he failed to convert and the set went to a
tie-break – which the older Frenchman won 7-5 after one hour and 48 minutes
to improve to a 12-2 match record on the season. After his customary
post-match celebration, Tsonga dropped to his hands and knees and kissed the
court in jubilation.
“I think he played well today because it was really tough,” said Tsonga. “
I played a great match, I served very well and I think his inexperience was
evident at 5-4 in the first set when he missed some easy shots. But now he
has some experience and I hope he’s going to do well next time.”
Tsonga, who saved all eight break points that he faced in the final, lost
serve only twice in 48 service games in his five matches at the SA Tennis
Open. He served 16 aces in Sunday’s championship match and lost only six
points behind his first serve.
“I think it’s the best part of my game,” said the Frenchman. “I improved
it a lot last year and now I’m really confident on important points.”
Chardy, who celebrates his 22nd birthday on Thursday, was bidding to become
the first player to win his first ATP World Tour title this season; there
were 11 first-time winners in 2007. The Pau native came through his
semi-final on Saturday in dramatic fashion, saving three match points to
defeat second seed David Ferrer.
“I think I played a very good match, I’m very happy with my match and I
have no regrets,” said Chardy after the final. “I thought he played well on
the important points. I had so many break points and I missed every time, I
think that was the difference today."
Chardy, currently a career-high No. 61 in the South African Airways 2009 ATP
Rankings, reached the quarter-finals in Sydney (l. to Gasquet) in the second
week of the season before losing to defending champion Novak Djokovic in the
second round of the Australian Open. He dropped to a 7-4 match record on the
season.
The right-hander enjoyed his first Top 100 finish at No. 73 in the South
African Airways 2008 ATP Rankings last season after reaching two ATP World
Tour quarter-finals and advancing to a Grand-Slam-best fourth round at Roland
Garros.
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