Article

  • Tsonga, Monfils set up Thailand Open showdown

    9/26/08 4:11 PM | Ricky Dimon
    - A blockbuster semifinal is in the cards after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils advance in Bangkok on Friday. Tomas Berdych also moves on to the last four.

    Tomas Berdych d. Nicolas Mahut 7-6(6), 6-3

    Big serving ruled the afternoon in this quarterfinal, and Berdych proved to be just a little too good in that department. The No. 3 seed did not face a single break point in the opening set while getting five chances against the Mahut serve. Berdych, however, could not convert any of them as the opening frame of play progressed to a tiebreaker. The Frenchman had one set point in the 'breaker at 6-5, but Berdych won the next three points to take a decisive lead in the match. From there Berdych never looked back. The Czech finally broke through to seize an early edge in the second and he saved two break points en route to a commanding 5-3 advantage. A second break of serve at that point finished off Mahut and put Berdych in the Thailand Open semifinals, where he will face No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic.

    Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d. Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-2

    Tsonga, who missed three months from May until the U.S. Open, put on arguably his most impressive display of tennis since reaching the final of the Australian Open in January. The second-seeded Frenchman was devastating on serve, firing 13 aces to just one double-fault while only facing--and saving--one break point over two sets. Melzer actually won more return points in the first (eight to seven), but Tsonga capitalized on one of two break points and that was enough to take the set. The second frame of play featured complete domination by Tsonga. He blasted eight aces and lost only one point in four service games. Two more breaks of the Austrian were more than enough for Tsonga to sprint into to the semifinals, where he will take on countryman Gael Monfils.

    Gael Monfils d. Philipp Petzschner 7-6(6), 6-4

    Petzschner was looking for another upset, having ousted Marat Safin in round one, and for a while it looked like he might be on his way. The German, ranked 131st in the world, hung tough with Monfils throughout the first set and eventually forced a tiebreaker. Petzschner seized a quick mini-break, gave it right back for 3-3, but then jumped out to a 6-4 lead to give himself two set points. The third-seeded Frenchman, however, surged to the next four points, the last of which came on Petzschner's serve to finish off the set. Dispirited from the drastic turn of events, Petzschner dropped serve in the opening game of the second. Seemingly on a roll to the semifinals, Monfils suddenly let up and got broken right back. Not to be denied, however, Monfils secured one more break and that allowed him to eventually serve out the match at 5-4, which he did with little trouble.

Tell a friend »

Comments


Write comment

You have to be logged in to comment. If you do not have an account, click here to register. It only takes a minute and you'll be redirected back to this page.
Username:

Password: