Jo-Wilfried Tsonga prevails over Denis Istomin in the first round – AEGON International 2011
World number 19 and top seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France defeated world number 61 Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan in straight sets 6-2, 7-5 in the opening round of AEGON International at Devonshire Park in Eastbourne on Tuesday. The French took an hour and 30 minutes to beat his opponent.
Tsonga took the lead straight away as he broke Istomin in the opening game of the first set and held his next service game to take a 2-0 lead. The French broke the Uzbek again in the fifth game and consolidated on it to win the set 6-2.
The six feet and two inches tall hit two aces and 59 percent of the first serves, grabbing 76 percent of the points on them in the opening set. Tsonga succeeded in saving all the four break points he faced and converted two of the ten break points he received on Istomin’s serve in the first set.
Istomin drew the first blood in the second set as he broke Tsonga in the fourth game, taking a 3-1 lead. However, the Uzbek failed to consolidate on it as he was broken back in the very next game. Tsonga held his serve in the next game to level the score at 3-3. The 26-year-old broke again in the eleventh game and served out the set at 6-5.
The La Rippe, Switzerland citizen fired six aces and 66 percent of the first serves in the second set. Tsonga won 71 percent of the first service points in the second set. On the other hand, Istomin delivered the same percentage of first serves, winning 72 percent of the points on them.
Tsonga is in good form as he reached the final of AEGON Championships at Queen’s Club last week, eventually losing to Andy Murray of Great Britain. En route to the title match, the French upset world number 1 Rafael Nadal of Spain in the quarterfinals.
Talking to the reporters after the match, the right-handed said, "It's great to go into Wimbledon. I play well on this surface and I hope I will have a good tournament there. I haven't really played well for the last three months. I need to play. Last year I didn't play enough and I need to play to improve my game and to feel confident and win some matches."
Last year, the French was beaten by Murray in four sets 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 2-6, 2-6 in the quarterfinals.
Tsonga added, "I don't have any problems. I think that's the difference between now and a year ago. I can jump on the court, run and slide. I can do everything. So I'm ready. It's one of my favourite tournaments.”
The six feet and two inches tall will meet Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic in the second round.
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