Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs Juan Martin Del Potro – Final Preview: Erste Bank Open 2011
In a seeded battle, top seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga meets second seeded Argentine giant, Juan Martin Del Potro in the final match of the 2011 Erste Bank Open at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria on Sunday, October 30th.
In the most anticipated clash of the week, the two inform pros are expected to give the audience a fierce three setter full of lengthy rallies and mind blowing winners.
The former world number six and the current world number nine, Tsonga is enjoying one of the best forms of his career. Following third round exits at the Australian Open and French Open, the Frenchman became a major contender for the title in the later Grand Slams of the seasons putting in a semi-final showing at Wimbledon and a quarterfinal showing at Flushing Meadows.
Trailing along earlier in the season, Tsonga failed to make any major impact in any of the events save a last four at Doha and a finalist at Rotterdam. He crashed out in early rounds of almost all of the Masters events. However, post Flushing Meadows, Tsonga has proved to be a player not to be reckoned with. Following a semi-final showing at Montreal, Tsonga won the title at Metz and made it to the last four at Beijing. The Frenchman’s luck ran out at Shanghai when he crashed and burned in the second round.
Despite his recent loss, Tsonga is the most formidable player at Vienna. A debutant here, the Frenchman moved into the final two with only two set losses defeating Jarkko Nieminen, Xavier Malisse and Daniel Brands.
As he looks to meet DelPo in the final round, Tsonga may be playing his most enthralling match of the season including his two wins over former world number one Roger Federer. The Argentine giant, though a forgotten threat, holds a perfect 3-0 win over the Tsonga in the head-to-head score. However, many pundits are off the opinion that the Argentine claimed these victories before his surgery in 2009. Post surgery DelPo is perhaps a tamer prospect.
With a 42-14 win loss for the season, DelPo may just surprise fans and critics all over. With two title wins under his belt at Estoril and Delray Beach along with three semi-final appearances, DelPo is not to be underestimated. However, the fact remains that the former world number four peaked early in the season. Post French Open, DelPo has crashed out of almost all the events in early rounds. This is Argentine’s first final two appearance in seven months.
Despite holding an edge over Tsonga, DelPo is expected to crumble under the pressure of the match not to mention that two years later, the Frenchman is more experienced and a better player.
Prediction: Even with the psychological c*m statistical advantage along with a previous showing at Vienna as opposed to Tsonga’s debut appearance, the Frenchman’s top form this season cannot be denied. The world number nine is expected to outlast the Argentine in three enthralling sets.
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