Juan Martin Del Potro battles past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga into the title match – 2012 Open 13
Fourth seed Juan Martin Del Potro overcame top seed, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, in three sets 6-4, 6-7(9), 6-3, in the semi-finals at the Open 13 in Marseille, France on Saturday. Del Potro required two hours and 48 minutes
to beat Tsonga in a nail biting encounter.
Del Potro and Tsonga exchanged a break of serve in the first four games to even out the score at 2-2. The Argentinean, Del Potro, grabbed lead by winning two games in a row and maintained it until the end, capturing the opener
6-4.
Both players held their serves throughout the second set, taking it to a tie-breaker. Del Potro and Tsonga went neck to neck till 9-9. The Frenchman was able to bag last two points to claim it 11-9.
Del Potro raised the level of his game in the decider, clinching first three games to go ahead 3-0. The Argentinean did not allow his opponent to stage a comeback, beating him 6-3.
After the match, satisfied Del Potro said, "I’m really glad I have a chance to play another final. Plus, beating Tsonga here in France in the way I played today, I have many good things take away for the future. I’m close to winning
the tournament, so I’ll be ready for a fight like today."
The 23-year-old added "It was close. I was lucky that he missed a volley that gave me the break in the third set. Perhaps the key was my behaviour. I stayed calm throughout. You have to stay calm, fight and be fit. It's the only
way to win (against the best players)."
Del Potro is slated to take on Michael Llodra of France in the title match.
World number 40 Llodra upset third seed Janko Tipsarevic to qualify for the final. The Frenchman beat Tipsarevic in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(10) in an hour and 39 minutes.
Tipsarevic and Llodra did not face much trouble in holding their serves. There was only one break of serve in the entire match.
Llodra snatched the Serbian’s serve in the ninth game of the first set and utilised the opportunity to win it 6-4.
Tipsarevic and Llodra won all the 12 serve games in the second to force a tie-breaker. The Frenchman saved six set points and finally succeeded in clinching it 12-10.
This will be Llodra’s third outing with Del Potro. The Frenchman trails 0-2 in the head-to-head series.
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