-
Jo Wilfried-Tsonga - Source: Reuters -
Related
Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga outgunned Russia's Mikhail Youzhny
6-3 6-3 to win the Japan Open with a stunning mix of guile and
brute force on Sunday.
The world number seven and tournament second seed took 69 minutes
to blow Youzhny off court and capture his third title of the year
and fifth of his career.
"I played perfectly today - like I did yesterday," Tsonga said in
a courtside interview. "When I play like that it's tough for my
opponents."
Tsonga broke through in the eighth game of the first set, forcing
Youzhny to smack a forehand wide and the Frenchman took the set
with a 201kph ace into the corner.
Another fierce forehand pressured Youzhny into netting a backhand
to give Tsonga the crucial break for 4-3 in the second and he
quickly slammed the door on the Russian.
Tsonga chased down a Youzhny drop shot, dinking the ball cross
court to bring up match point, which he converted with a high
volley off a clever sliced approach into the corner.
He celebrated by climbing into the players' box to hug his
entourage as a packed Tokyo crowd bathed in sunshine after a week
of typhoon rain roared in appreciation.
A first title since winning in Marseille in February moved Tsonga
closer to securing a place in the season-ending World Tour Finals
in London, exclusive to the world's top eight.
It was also worth $US300,000 to Tsonga, who now has a 5-1 record
in ATP Tour finals.
Youzhny offered no excuses after losing his 10th career
final.
"I can't say I played badly but he was too good," said the Russian
world number 49, a four-times ATP Tour winner.
"He served great. He hit four serves and we changed ends. I had no
chances to break."
