Novak Djokovic prevails over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in quarter-final – Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2012
Top seed and defending champion, Novak Djokovic, faced slight resistance in beating France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, seeded fifth at the event, in straight sets 7-5, 6-1 in the quarter-final at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome,
Italy on Friday. The Serbian juggernaut required just an hour and 23 minutes to record this win over Tsonga.
It was a welcome win for Djokovic, who faced a scare in his previous match. The Serbian, who is holding three Grand Slams currently, fought back from a deficit of one set to overcome the challenge of Argentinean contender, Juan
Monaco.
Djokovic got in front from the start of the contest, snatching opening three games to race to a 3-0 lead. Tsonga hit back in the fifth to reduce the deficit to 2-3 but the Serbian broke him again in the sixth to move ahead 4-2.
The Frenchman was not in a mood to throw away the set, clinching two games in a row to even out the score at 4-4. However, all his efforts went in vain, as he failed to hold his serve in the 12th, losing it 5-7.
The reigning world number one, Djokovic, fired two aces and 78 percent of the first serves in the opener, claiming 19 of the 29 points on them. The Serbian hero looked rusty on the second deliveries, losing five of the eight points
on them but compensated that by securing eight of the 10 on the second returns.
Djokovic completely demolished Tsonga later on, as he snatched breaks in the second and fourth game of the second set, consolidating on both of them to build a 5-0 lead. The Belgrade, Serbia resident allowed his French opponent
to win only one game and closed it 6-1.
The 6ft 2in tall said, talking to the reporters, "In the second set I played one of the best sets on clay this year and this is encouraging for the challenges to come tomorrow and with Roland Garros.”
Djokovic had not lost even a single match till the French Open semi-finals last year but has already gone down in four this year. He added, “I am playing and feeling better every match I play. I really don't compare with 2011.
I say that this is a new year and I had great results so far and I am playing good in Rome so far. I am increasing the level as the tournament goes on and this is important."
The Serbian is drawn to play Swiss Maestro, Roger Federer, in the semi-finals.
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