Jo-Wilfried Tsonga scuttles past Fernando Verdasco in round three – Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters 2012
World number five, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, outfoxed the 19th ranked Spaniard, Fernando Verdasco, in the third round of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Thursday. He did the job in straight sets 7-6(2), 6-2 and booked a date
with his ninth seed compatriot, Gilles Simon.
On his triumph, the local number one said, “We do know each other, but it's going to be tight because both of us will want to win. I believe it's going to be an electrifying match. I'm always hungry for victories. I always go on
the court wanting to win. Sometimes people are shocked when I say, 'If I come to this tournament, it's because I want to try to go to the end of the tournament.' But I think it's important."
Tsonga had lost twice to Verdasco in the previous three battles so it was crucial for him to win the clash and level the head-to-head scores. More importantly, he needed to provide glory to the home crowd. They came in the expectation
to see their hero win and they got exactly that.
The match was interrupted due to rain during the sixth game. However, both players returned to the arena later with the same attitude and provided no chances to their counterparts to take hold of the proceedings. Tsonga was under
the cosh twice on his serves but the big man stood up to the task and battled it out until the end to enforce the tie-breaker round.
The 27-year-old French was experienced enough to gust his opponent away in tight tie-breaker round. He sneaked the first set triumph and diminished the possibility of an upset on red dirt. The Spaniard was more experience and favourite
to win on clay courts but his incapability to convert the breakpoints led to his downfall in the opening set.
Verdasco was completely ousted in the second set. He only won four points in the first four games that featured a couple of successful breakthroughs for the French. It was a poor start to the second set and the fourth seed French
was in no mood to squander such a massive opportunity to pound on his rival.
The 13th seed Spaniard had a chance to break serve in the sixth game and lower the trail but again failed to convert the breakpoint to his favour. Tsonga is hot favourite to win the clash in the next round that will
feature both players from the host nation.
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