Having experienced the most consistent months of his career at the end of 2011, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was keen on keeping the ball rolling as much as possible when starting the new season and he did just that while playing his first tournament in Doha. After a relaxing off-season, the Frenchman was quick in picking it from where he left it. Giving no signs of loosening it up, he took advantage of some gaps in the draw and won the title, stamping his authority as a top force on the ATP tour.
It wasn't quite a walk in park though, especially not in the first rounds, as he struggled in his first match against Tunisian wildcard Malek Jaziri. It took the splitting of the first two tie-breaks to shake off the rust and find his range, but once this happened Tsonga was unreachable. He closed that match 6-1 in the decider, went on to conquer Italian Flavio Cipolla before destroying Spaniard Albert Ramos to ensure his quarterfinal berth. Being expected to face Roger Federer in the semis, Jo's chances hit a substantial increase when the defending champion retired due to a back injury before the duo took the court. The two have had some pretty heated meetings lately with the Swiss winning their Sunday play-offs from Paris and London. Thus, the walkover was like a breath of fresh air for Tsonga who received a ticket for an all French final against his friend Gael Monfils. The latter was on fire after having beaten Rafael Nadal in the semifinals and he broke Jo's first service game. It didn't take long though for Tsonga to find an antidote to Monfils' athleticism and powerful groundstrokes. With some booming serves and whipping forehands he bounced back leveling at 4 all before taking the set 7-5. Things went smoother in the second set for the number 1 Frenchman. He broke for a 4-2 lead and easily served out the match at 5-3, leaving a disillusioned Monfils to reflect on yet another missing opportunity. With this win Jo-Wilfried has reinforced his credentials as one to look after at the first Grand Slam of the year in Melbourne.
The tournament marked a great week for French tennis, as its two main forces shone brightly under the Qatar lights. While for Tsonga it's just a matter of keeping it going, Monfils still needs to unleash his potential, capitalize on his chances and make his mark when it matters most.
The tournament marked a great week for French tennis, as its two main forces shone brightly under the Qatar lights. While for Tsonga it's just a matter of keeping it going, Monfils still needs to unleash his potential, capitalize on his chances and make his mark when it matters most.
photos: GETTY IMAGES
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