Jo-Wilfried Tsonga downs Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals – AEGON Championships 2011
World number 19 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France fought back from a deficit of one set to upset world number 1 and former champion Rafael Nadal of Spain in three sets 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-1 in the quarterfinals of AEGON Championships at
the Queen’s Club in London on Friday. The French needed two hours and two minutes to beat his opponent in a tough contest.
Nadal and Tsonga failed to break each other in the first twelve games of the opening set, equalising the score at 6-6 and forcing a tie-break. Nadal had two break points in the eleventh game but Tsonga produced some fine serves
to hold his serve. In the tie-break, the Spaniard won last won last five points to claim it 7-3.
The Mallorcan delivered three aces and 68 percent of the first serves in the first set. On the other hand, Tsonga served exceptionally well as he fired sixteen aces and an amazing 96 percent of the first serves in the opening set.
Tsonga broke the Spaniard in the opening game of the second set to go ahead 1-0. However, the French could not consolidate as he was broken immediately, levelling the score at 1-1. The next six games went with serve to square off
the score at 4-4. The French won four consecutive points to break Nadal’s serve in the ninth game and convincingly held his serve in the next game to win the set 6-4.
After winning the second set, Tsonga came roaring in the deciding set as he broke Nadal in the first and third game to race to a 4-0 lead. Nadal held an easy service game at 0-4 to open his account and reduce Tsonga’s lead to 4-1.
Serving to stay in the set at 1-5, Nadal was broken for the third time in the final set to lose 1-6.
Reflecting on the match, Nadal said, "I didn't play badly at the beginning. He was serving really well. [In the] second set I had my chances, in my opinion. Probably after losing [the] second set mentally I lost my concentration.
First game [of the third set] mentally [I was] a little bit tired. [I have played] a lot of matches in a row. And after that with the break in the third [set] it was a mountain for me to come back into the match.”
This loss ended the Spaniard’s streak of seven straight ATP Tour level which included titles at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell and French Open.
The Spaniard added, “The negative thing is I lost [today]; the positive thing is I have few days off and can stop a little bit mentally.
Tsonga will face local wild card entrant James Ward, ranked 216th in the world, in the semi-finals. The Brit upset French Adrian Mannarino in three sets 6-2, 6-7(14), 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
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