Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: the 2011 season – Tennis Special
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, French world No.9 and the former world No.6, is 26-year-old and has made this season his best so far. The Le Mans born Frenchman started of back in 2004; Tsonga started off as a hard court player and has surely
made his impact reaching the Australian open final round in 2008, quarter-final in 2009 and semi in 2010. However, his run this year was a bit different.
Started off his season on outdoor hard courts, the 26-year-old Frenchman entered the Qatar ExxonMobil Open – Doha as the world No.13. With the Swiss Maestro also in the event, Tsonga swirled up and met the former world No.2 in
the semis round however, lost in straight sets.
Bagging just 90 point of the event, the Frenchman took a drive to step in Australian Open. Hoping to finish off this time as he made it to the semis last year, 2010, Tsonga could not capitalize as he lost in the round of 32 to
Ukrainian, Alexandr Dolgopolov and pocketed another 90 points.
Dropping down in ranking to world No.18 that week, Frenchman chose another hard circuit event next, ABN AMRO – Rotterdam. Playing indoor Tsonga had a super run as he ousted world No.7, Tomas Berdych in round of 8, clearing the
semis and going on head-to-head against the former world No.4 Swede, Robin Soderling. However, Soderling was too hot to hold for the Frenchman and lost is 3 sets.
With 300 more points, the French 26-year-old jumped up two places, world No.16, and went back home to play at Marseille. Gaining just 45 points from the event, Tsonga lost to Mikhail Youzhny, Russian, in the quarter-final round
losing a place in the rankings.
Unable to make his mark in his next appearances at Miami Masters hard and Monte Carlo Masters hard, the former world No.6 entered the clay court even and could not stand a chance against the Spaniards and the Argentines. Losing
at Estoril Open, Madrid Masters, Rome Masters and at Roland Garros as well, Tsonga took his luck to grass courts.
June 6th, the AEGON Championships fired up in London and Tsonga made his comeback. Beating down the former world No.1, Rafael Nadal, the Frenchman came forth against the former world No.4, and the local lad, Andy Murray,
however, the 26-year-old still could not make a bigger impact and finished off as the runner-up.
Reaching the final did not help Tsonga to gain back his ranking as he had dropped back in points losing the clay court events. The second Grass court event, at Eastbourne, harboured the Frenchman 20 points only; however, the next
event was his best run so far in the season.
Entering Wimbledon, the Frenchman destroyed former world No.6, David Ferrer, former world No.3, Roger Federer and went on to play against the former world No.2, Novak Djokovic in the semi-final round. Losing then the Frenchman
still bagged 720 points to jump from world No.19 to world No.14. However, losing at Davis cup lost him 2 places straight.
August 8th, the Canadian Masters took off, hard court event, and Tsonga once again came forth the former world No.3, Roger Federer in the round of 16 and the world No.1 Novak Djokovic in the semis. Retiring from the
event, Tsonga took home 360 points and jumped ahead 6 places to rest at World No.10.
Next, the Frenchman entered another Masters event, Cincinnati however, could not go past the round of 32, losing to Alex Bogomolov Jr and lost a place. However, with the last Grand Slam of the season on its way, the US Open, Tsonga
took on World No.8, and the local lad, Mardy Fish in Round of 16 and went on to play the Swiss Maestro for the third time this year.
Hoping to cut the Swiss down again, Tsonga was brought to reality. Federer pulled of the fixture winning after being one set down. Nevertheless the Frenchman did bag another 360 points to jump back to world No.10. Losing to Nadal
in Davis Cup, Tsonga made it home to play the Metz. With mere difficulty, the Frenchman reined the indoor hard court and bagged another 250 points, jumping from world No.10 to world No.7, one short to his highest ranking. Next, the Frenchman entered Beijing,
ATP 500 event, and made it to the semis, however, lost to lower ranked, world No.10, Tomas Berdych.
Winning 180 points and a lot of cash, the Frenchman still lost a place and dropped to world No.18. Unable to make an impact at the Shanghai Masters, Tsonga took a flight to Vienna, his last stop before the Barclays ATP Tour finals.
Beating down Juan Martin Del Potro, world No.15 in the final run, Tsonga confirmed his spot at the 7th out of the 8 playing at London, the year end championship.
Standing at world No.8 now, Tsonga has the top 5 in his way at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Although the Frenchman had ousted most of them, he will surely get a h**l ride as all of the top 5 are in super form and wanted
the last title of the year as bad as anything.
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