Jo-Wilfried Tsonga battles past Juan Martin del Potro to clinch title win – Erste Bank Open 2011
Top seeded French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga inched towards qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals after overpowering Argentinean Juan Martin del Potro at the title round of the Erste Bank Open 2011. He registered a 6-7(5),
6-3, 6-4 victory over the 23-year-old Argentinean to clinch his second year-to-date title on Sunday.
World number eight Tsonga required almost two and half hours to rally past the Argentinean, ranked six spots below him in the South African Airways ATP World Tour rankings, for the first time on their fourth meeting. After triumphing
over del Potro, the Frenchman shelved his seventh career title and lifted up his confidence and spirit.
In the opening set, both stars played exceptional tennis as they warded off all three breakpoints came across.
Tsonga smashed eleven massive aces and registered an incredible 88 percent on his first serve share.
The Argentinean on the other hand clobbered a better first serve share of 69 percent as compared to the Frenchman’s 56 percent and registered a convincing 73 percent win on it.
The set went to a tie-breaker where del Potro outclassed Tsonga to register a 7-6(5) victory.
26-year-old French carried his losing ways in the second set and after gifting away an early serve, he went 2-1 down. However, Tsonga lifted his game from this point and after converting two out of three breakpoint opportunities
to his advantage, he sealed the equaliser with a 6-3 win. He clobbered a higher first serve share of 68 percent as opposed to the Argentinean’s 54 percent and earned an impressive 74 percent win on it.
In the final set, Tsonga smoothly held entire serves without facing any hindrance. Furthermore, he required only a single breakpoint chance which he duly converted to his advantage to bag the decider with a 6-4 score line.
Overall, the Swiss resident hammered a total of twenty-five aces and despite spilling more errors; he earned a superb 82 percent win on his slightly lower first serve share.
"I just tried to stay focused and strong in the head. I broke him back and came back in this final, and finally I did it," said Tsonga. ". It was a great final and it's going to stay in my memories."
Tsonga lifted his second title of the season here. He clinched his first title in Metz after defeating Ljubicic. He also made final berths at Rotterdam and London.
"I will try to take all the pressure off myself. I just want to play every tournament and enjoy it," stated the high spirited Frenchman. "I will try to play my best tennis and not think about it the next two weeks, so we'll see.
But of course I hope I will get there."
Tsonga is eyeing to qualify for the year end Barclay ATP World Tour Finals and improved his chances of qualifying after getting the spot light here.
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