Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has continued his love affair with Melbourne Park, reaching the round of 16 at Australian Open 2010 after downing German Tommy Haas in their third-round clash on Saturday.
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The two-and-a-half hour match featured lethal Tsonga serving and stinging baseline winners from Haas, but the Frenchman was too good, winning 6-4 3-6 6-1 7-5.
Tennis fans were treated to a classy display of skills in the first set, with both players in hot form from the outset. Haas’ backhand, which eluded him at times in his previous match, was on song early, while Tsonga’s net play and fast serving delighted the crowd.
Games went on serve until the crucial ninth game, the longest of the match to that stage. Two unforced errors from Haas had him in trouble early, but the German fought back to 30-30. Haas tried to be positive by advancing to the net, but was passed twice by the Frenchman, who was starting to find his groove.
Haas saved one break point and then attempted to catch Tsonga off-guard with a drop shot on the next, but Tsonga was equal to the task as he ran the shot down. Haas tried a lob, but Tsonga smashed with authority.
If the fans thought that point was good, the next was even better. After a long rally, where both players scampered from each side of the court to the other, a Haas forehand clipped the net cord and left Tsonga completely out of position. Lifting his racquet up with a jolt, Tsonga reacted quickly and miraculously volleyed the ball back cross-court. Haas ran the ball down but sent a forehand sailing long, and the set was Tsonga’s.
In the second, Haas threatened to break in the sixth game, but two Tsonga aces when he was break point down and then a strong forehand on game point ensured the set stayed on serve. Haas was rewarded for his persistence with two breaks late in the set, which he eventually took 6-4.
The German called for the trainer before the third set started, his right knee and back causing some trouble. Tsonga seized the opportunity and sealed the set with a sizzling off-forehand, taking it 6-1 in just over half an hour.
The momentum stayed with Tsonga early in the fourth set, as he held serve easily while Haas faced and saved break points on his second service game.
The tide began to change when Haas snatched a break by flicking an acute forehand crosscourt winner after sprinting to reach a Tsonga volley that clipped the singles sideline. Almost unbelievably, Tsonga returned the favour on break point later in the set when he retrieved a Haas drop shot and also flicked a forehand right past the German.
Three unforced errors by Haas when the scores were level at 5-5 all but handed the set and the match to Tsonga. The Frenchman held to love when serving for the set, winning in four and keeping up his record of never playing a five-set match in any of his 10 Grand Slam appearances.
The No. 10 seed now sets up a round of 16 match-up with No. 26 seed Nicolas Almagro after the Spaniard beat Colombian Alejandro Falla in straight sets earlier in the day.
Fast facts
- Tsonga served more than double the amount of aces than Haas (20-9).
- Haas had more baseline winners than Tsonga, but also committed more unforced errors (38-29).
- Tsonga’s fastest serve was 217km/h.
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