Red-hot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Australia’s Nick Kyrgios 7-6 (7/5), 2-6, 6-4 on Saturday to make the final of the Open 13 in Marseille in which he was due to meet fellow Frenchman Lucas Pouille.
Victory yesterday in the final would mean a career first for Tsonga of back-to-back ATP Tour triumphs and marks a real return to form for last year’s US Open quarter-finalist.
Last week, Tsonga won the title in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where he came from a set down to beat Belgian David Goffin.
Photo: AFP
“I’m on top form right now so let’s see,” Tsonga said. “I did what I had to do, it was great tennis.”
Kyrgios had his serve broken at 5-4 serving for the set and went down 7-5 in the eventual tiebreaker for the first set.
The infamously temperamental Australian was the defending champion and rampaged back to claim the second set 6-2, but a fully determined Tsonga won out with a 6-4 final set.
“I wanted to show him I’d be there for each shot,” said Tsonga, who is due to climb to eighth in the world rankings.
Pouille thumped another Frenchman, Richard Gasquet, 7-5, 6-3 and had even been leading 5-0 in the second set.
Pouille and Tsonga have only met once before, Tsonga winning on the clay in Monaco last season.
“Jo is right back on form and I’m glad to be playing him tomorrow. I’ll need to serve well to beat him,” Pouille said.
DELRAY BEACH OPEN
AFP, MIAMI
Top-seeded Canadian Milos Raonic held off Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) on Saturday to book a title clash with Jack Sock at the Delray Beach Open.
Despite some shaky moments, Raonic fought off a set point in the second-set tiebreaker and closed out the match with his 17th ace to advance to a meeting with Sock, a 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) winner over fellow American Donald Young.
“You know it’s going to be close, so it’s about keeping disciplined and a positive attitude on the court,” Raonic said.
World No. 4 Raonic broke Del Potro in the 11th game of the second set to serve for the match, but the big-serving 26-year-old was broken back, firing a forehand wide to give Del Potro a break point which the 2009 US Open winner converted with a backhand winner.
Raonic was close again with a 5-4 lead in the tiebreaker and two service points to come, but he double-faulted and sent a forehand wide to give Del Potro a set point that the seventh seed could not convert.
Another forehand long from Del Potro gave Raonic a 7-6 lead and the Canadian won a third straight point to reach his first final of the season.
“He was coming so fast to my game and slice that I couldn’t manage my backhands,” Del Potro said. “I tried my best, but he was too good.”
Sock was seeking to add a second title of the year to the one he lifted in Auckland last month.
He saved the only break point he faced in the match and won the final seven points of the second-set tiebreaker to seize the victory.
“It definitely could have gone either way in the first set,” Sock said. “He’s a tricky player in that he makes you play a lot of balls and can wear you down, but also has great hands at the net when he comes forward.”
In the semi-finals of the doubles, Taiwan’s Lu Yen-hsun and Leander Paes of India fell to a 6-2, 6-1 defeat to third seeds Treat Huey and Max Mirnyi in just 58 minutes.
The Philippine-Belarussian duo were due to face second seeds Raven Klaasen of South Africa and Rajeev Ram of the US in the final after they ousted Jonathan Erlich of Israel and Scott Lipsky of the US 6-3, 3-6, 10-1.
Additional reporting by staff writer
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely