Tsonga hopes to buck French title trend
Source: AFP |
June 6, 2013, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
JO-WILFRIED Tsonga, who only just failed to beat Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros last year, held his nerve on Tuesday to humble Roger Federer 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 and carry the hopes of a nation into the French Open last four.
Sixth seed Tsonga, who will take on Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer, is bidding to become the first Frenchman in the Paris final since Henri Leconte in 1988.
No Frenchman has won the home grand slam title, let alone a major, since Yannick Noah prevailed in 1983 at Roland Garros.
The pressure in Paris has accounted for a succession of French hopes.
Amelie Mauresmo, a double grand slam champion, never went past the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.
Richard Gasquet, once dubbed the 'Mozart of tennis', again threw away a two-set lead in the fourth round against Stanislas Wawrinka on Monday.
On Sunday, Gilles Simon came close to beating Federer in the fourth round, but the 15th seed lost after opening a 2-1 set lead.
Tsonga suffers occasionally from nerves, squandering four match points before bowing out against Djokovic in their quarterfinal clash at the French Open last year.
But he is also the last Frenchman to reach a grand slam final and the last male French player with a Masters title to his name, having played in the 2008 Australian Open final and winning the Paris Bercy title the same year.
"Unfortunately, I can't really enjoy (my victory). I can't celebrate. Of course it's very good because I did that, but the tournament keeps going," Tsonga said.
"When you beat Federer in the semis, of course you think you can go a lot further."
Tsonga hired Lleyton Hewitt's former coach Roger Rasheed before last year's Paris Masters in October 2012.
Sixth seed Tsonga, who will take on Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer, is bidding to become the first Frenchman in the Paris final since Henri Leconte in 1988.
No Frenchman has won the home grand slam title, let alone a major, since Yannick Noah prevailed in 1983 at Roland Garros.
The pressure in Paris has accounted for a succession of French hopes.
Amelie Mauresmo, a double grand slam champion, never went past the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.
Richard Gasquet, once dubbed the 'Mozart of tennis', again threw away a two-set lead in the fourth round against Stanislas Wawrinka on Monday.
On Sunday, Gilles Simon came close to beating Federer in the fourth round, but the 15th seed lost after opening a 2-1 set lead.
Tsonga suffers occasionally from nerves, squandering four match points before bowing out against Djokovic in their quarterfinal clash at the French Open last year.
But he is also the last Frenchman to reach a grand slam final and the last male French player with a Masters title to his name, having played in the 2008 Australian Open final and winning the Paris Bercy title the same year.
"Unfortunately, I can't really enjoy (my victory). I can't celebrate. Of course it's very good because I did that, but the tournament keeps going," Tsonga said.
"When you beat Federer in the semis, of course you think you can go a lot further."
Tsonga hired Lleyton Hewitt's former coach Roger Rasheed before last year's Paris Masters in October 2012.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
