Tsonga digs deep to advance in Barcelona
Source: Agencies |
April 23, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
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THIRD-SEEDED Jo-Wilfried Tsonga came from behind to beat Nicolas Almagro of Spain 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 for the third time this year at the Barcelona Open yesterday.
Tsonga, making his debut in Barcelona, also beat 15th-seeded Almagro at the Australian Open and last week in Monte Carlo.
Joining Tsonga in the quarterfinals was eighth-seeded David Ferrer, the runner-up to Rafael Nadal for the last two years.
Ferrer won all nine games when qualifier Simone Bolelli of Italy retired with a right wrist injury.
Former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, the 2001 Barcelona winner, lost his first meeting with Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (4).
Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil and qualifier Eduardo Schwank of Argentina also advanced.
Claycourt specialist Almagro looked to be on course for his third quarterfinal of the season after taking the opening set, but it was not to be third time lucky for the Spaniard, who has now lost all three encounters against Tsonga in 2010.
Almagro struck the first blow, taking the opening set after three exchanges of serve and started the second set as he ended the first, carving out a break-point opportunity on Tsonga's serve.
Decisive
But in what proved to be a decisive game, the world No. 10 hung on before sneaking a break of serve, before promptly running away with the set, leading 5-0 before Almagro could find a response. A single break of serve proved to be crucial in the deciding set as Tsonga wrapped up the match in just over two hours. Just as Almagro looked to be finding a way back into the match, Tsonga shut the door with two love service game to seal the victory.
On Wednesday, Fernando Gonzalez's hopes for a successful claycourt season were dented when he suffered a shock 4-6, 7-6, 3-6 second round loss to Spanish qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
After falling a set behind, fourth seed Gonzalez, ranked almost 150 places higher than the 22-year-old left-hander, looked to have clawed his way back into the match by winning the second-set tiebreak 10-8.
But Ramos-Vinolas responded to the roars of support from the local fans to grab one crucial break of serve in the decider and set up a last-16 clash with Lativa's Ernests Gulbis.
A minute's silence was observed before Ferrer's match against Spanish compatriot Marcel Granollers following the death of former International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch.
A Barcelona native, the 89-year-old was a member of the club where the tournament is being held.
Tsonga, making his debut in Barcelona, also beat 15th-seeded Almagro at the Australian Open and last week in Monte Carlo.
Joining Tsonga in the quarterfinals was eighth-seeded David Ferrer, the runner-up to Rafael Nadal for the last two years.
Ferrer won all nine games when qualifier Simone Bolelli of Italy retired with a right wrist injury.
Former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, the 2001 Barcelona winner, lost his first meeting with Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (4).
Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil and qualifier Eduardo Schwank of Argentina also advanced.
Claycourt specialist Almagro looked to be on course for his third quarterfinal of the season after taking the opening set, but it was not to be third time lucky for the Spaniard, who has now lost all three encounters against Tsonga in 2010.
Almagro struck the first blow, taking the opening set after three exchanges of serve and started the second set as he ended the first, carving out a break-point opportunity on Tsonga's serve.
Decisive
But in what proved to be a decisive game, the world No. 10 hung on before sneaking a break of serve, before promptly running away with the set, leading 5-0 before Almagro could find a response. A single break of serve proved to be crucial in the deciding set as Tsonga wrapped up the match in just over two hours. Just as Almagro looked to be finding a way back into the match, Tsonga shut the door with two love service game to seal the victory.
On Wednesday, Fernando Gonzalez's hopes for a successful claycourt season were dented when he suffered a shock 4-6, 7-6, 3-6 second round loss to Spanish qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
After falling a set behind, fourth seed Gonzalez, ranked almost 150 places higher than the 22-year-old left-hander, looked to have clawed his way back into the match by winning the second-set tiebreak 10-8.
But Ramos-Vinolas responded to the roars of support from the local fans to grab one crucial break of serve in the decider and set up a last-16 clash with Lativa's Ernests Gulbis.
A minute's silence was observed before Ferrer's match against Spanish compatriot Marcel Granollers following the death of former International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch.
A Barcelona native, the 89-year-old was a member of the club where the tournament is being held.
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