Novak Djokovic vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – Semi-final Preview: Wimbledon Championships 2011
World number 2 Novak Djokovic of Serbia will take on former top ten, French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semi-finals of Wimbledon Championships at the All England Club in London on Friday.
Djokovic ended Bernard Tomic’s dream run as he prevailed over the Australian teenager in four sets 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to reach the semi-finals. On the other hand, Tsonga defeated sixteen time grand slam champion, Swiss legend Roger
Federer in five gruelling sets 3-6, 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
This will be the eighth meeting between Djokovic and Tsonga. The French has won five of the seven previous meetings between these two.
Tsonga upset the Serbian in five sets 7-6(8), 6-7(5), 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 when the pair met for the last time in the quarterfinals at the Australian Open last year. Djokovic downed the French in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in the quarterfinals
at the Sony Ericsson Open to claim his latest win over the French in 2009. The pair has met twice in the title match. Tsonga prevailed over Djokovic in straight sets 7-6(4), 6-4 in the final at the PTT Thailand Open in 2008. In their first meeting, the Serbian
overcame Tsonga in four sets 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(2) in the final at the Australian open to clinch his maiden grand slam title in 2008.
Djokovic is in the form of his life. The Serbian has a 46-1 win/loss record this season. The Monaco resident has already grabbed seven titles this year. His only loss came at the hands of Federer, when the Serbian was beaten by
the world number 3 in four sets 6-7(5), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(5) in the semi-final of the French Open last month.
The Serbian is only one win away from becoming the new world number 1. Djokovic is just 65 points below the current top player Rafael Nadal in the South African Airways ATP Rankings. If he reaches the final, the 24-year-old is
sure to replace the Spaniard as the reigning world number 1, regardless of the result in the title match.
On the other hand, Tsonga has won 27 out of 40 matches he has played this year. The French has failed to claim any title so far this season. The 26-year-old lost to Andy Murray of Great Britain in three sets 6-3, 6-7(2), 4-6 in
the final at the Queen’s Club in his last tournament.
Djokovic has reached last four for the third time at SW19. Talking about his opponent in the semi-finals, Djokovic said, “Tsonga has been playing great in the grass court season. He played really well at Queen’s, and now he’s been
winning against top players. He’s very dangerous. We are both baseline players. I think a lot will depend from our serves. I need to serve well because that’s something that he’s going to do, for sure.”
The Serbian added, “I think his game depends on that serve. If he starts missing first serves, then I can have some more chances in the rallies. I expect a very, very even match.”
Djokovic will be the favourite to come out victorious in this match due to his better ranking and remarkable record this season. The Serbian is expected to overcome Tsonga in five sets.
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