Jo-Wilfried Tsonga upsets Nicolas Almagro in the opening round of Mutua Madrid Open
French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, ranked 22nd in the world, thrashed world number 9 Nicolas Almagro of Spain in straight sets in the opening round of Mutua Madrid Open at the La Caja Mágica in Madrid on Sunday. Tsonga dropped
just four games in the contest, winning the match 6-1, 6-3 in just an hour and seven minutes.
The Frenchman crushed Almagro in the first set, allowing the Spaniard to win just a single game and winning the set 6-1.
Tsonga fired three aces and committed two double faults in the opening set. The French delivered 56 percent of the first serves, winning a whopping 89 percent of the points on them in the first set. On the other hand, Almagro had
a better first serves percentage as he hit 73 percent of the first serves and converted 44 percent of them into points. Tsonga converted three of the five break point opportunities he created in the opening set. The 26-year-old managed to save both break points
he faced in the first set.
In the second set, Tsonga needed a single break of serve to win it 6-3. The French served superbly as he fired five aces and committed just a single double fault in the second set. The right-handed had a much better first serve
percentage compared to the opening set as he delivered 70 percent of the first serves, converting 86 percent of them into points. In comparison, Almagro hit a single ace and did not commit any double fault. The Spaniard kept his first serve percentage at 67
percent and won 63 percent of the first service points in the second set. The 25-year-old could save only one of the two break points he faced in the second set.
Almagro said, talking to the reporters after the match, "Clearly it was a bad match. I had a lot of illusion to play here at home but clearly it wasn’t my best day. From the first moment things were going really badly and everything
went downhill from there.”
The Spaniard added, “Now, I will try to take the positives from this match and I will continue working towards the next tournament."
This was Almagro’s first match after entering the top 10 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings. The Spaniard had reached the semi-finals at the Mutua Madrid Open last year, losing to compatriot Rafael Nadal in three sets 6-4,
2-6, 2-6.
Tsonga is drawn to play either Japanese Kei Nishikori, ranked 46th in the world, or world number 76 Pere Riba of Spain in the second round. Nishikori received a wild card entry and Riba had to feature in the qualifying
round to enter the main draw.
Tags: