Novak Djokovic downs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in semis; becomes World No.1 – Wimbledon Championships 2011
Serbian ace Novak Djokovic moved into the final of Wimbledon Championships for the first time in his career after surviving a third set lapse against Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in their semi-final match in London, England on
Friday, 1st July. The Serb toiled for almost three hours as he secured a 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-7(9), 6-3 win over the Frenchman.
Tsonga took a perfect start to the match as he forced a long forehand from Djokovic while on advantage at deuce to clinch a break in the very first game. A successful hold of their serves later left Tsonga in a 3-1 lead. From there
on the match progressed on serve as neither player let up on their games keeping the deficit constant. Trailing the set at 4-5, Djokovic expertly broke back in the tenth game to level the set scores at five games each. The persistent pros pushed the game
into a tiebreaker as they both held onto their last service games, levelling the score at 6-6.
The tiebreaker started on an even footing as both players managed to clinch points on their service for the first four points. However, a long forehand and an into-net-shot from Tsonga, gave Djokovic a mini-break as he rushed into
a 4-2 lead, extending it to 6-4 moments later. A powerful ace from the Serb sealed the tiebreaker at 7-4, as he went one up in the set score.
Hitting twelve winners and three aces with an 88 percent conversion on his first serve, Djokovic secured a win in the first set to lead the Frenchman.
Recovered from the lapse early on in the first set, Djokovic started the second set on a high note as he returned the favour and broke Tsonga in the very first game to lead the set 2-0, extending it to 3-1 on his next service game.
Djoker managed another break in the fifth game as errors continue to flow from the Frenchman. Having extended his lead to 5-2, Djokovic served out the set with a powerful ace at 40-0 to secure a 6-2 win.
Replaying the second set, Djoker once more clinched an early break and destroyed the Frenchman on his own serve to lead the third set 3-1. However, errant strokes from Djoker gave Tsonga the opportunity to break back as the latter
levelled the score at four games each. Standing at a level 5-5, both players failed to save breakpoints as they kept the score tied at six games each, forcing the second tiebreaker of the match.
Tsonga started the tiebreaker with a mini-break as he led the score 2-0. However, fighting back Djokovic soon levelled the score at two points each. The pros exchanged serve breaks to keep the tiebreak levelled at five points each.
Following a rally of thirteen strokes, Djoker led the tiebreaker 6-5. However, Tsonga denied Djoker the match point and from there on forced the tiebreaker to stay levelled for the next six points. A double fault and a weak return from Djoker gave Tsonga the
break as he clinched the tiebreaker 11-9, reducing the set deficit to 1-2.
The dominant Serb kicked off the fourth set on a strong note as he broke Tsonga in the second game to clinch a 3-0 lead. From there on the two pros continued to win on their serve with Djokovic sealing his four sets win as he served
out a near perfect game at 5-3.
With this win Djokovic becomes the new world number one come Monday, 4th July displacing Spaniard Rafael Nadal. Incidentally Djokovic might be playing the Spaniard in the title match here. Nadal plays local hope Andy
Murray in the other semi-final.
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