Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s hopes of clashing with Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the Dubai open came to an end when he went down to Juan Martin Del Potro on Thursday.
With the win, Del Potro beat Tsonga for the second time in five days. Del Potro beat Tsongo 7-6, 6-2. The win also earned Del Potro his first win in a match against a top five player in the world in nine attempts. Del Potro’s win was pretty much sealed after Tsonga’s bad start in the crucial tie-break.
In the match Tsonga appeared less energetic than Del Potro and was 15-40 down in his first service game. He never really recovered – he was within two points of losing the set at deuce on his first serve in his 10th game.
In the tie-break Del Potro was helped by Tsonga’s double fault on his first service point and after that there was no looking back for Del Potro.