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5/28/09 8:20 PM | Ricky Dimon
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga survives a huge test against tough customer Juan Monaco in the second round of the French Open on Thursday. Next up for Tsonga is Christophe Rochus.
With one of France's favorite sons going up against arguably the most dangerous unseeded player in the draw, the hype surrounding this one was palpable. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Monaco certainly did not disappoint.
In a match that had the feel of something much more than a second-round affair, Tsonga overcame Monaco 7-5, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(8) at the French Open on Thursday evening. Tsonga needed three hours and nine minutes to set up a third-round encounter with unseeded Belgian Christophe Rochus.
A ruthless baseliner, Monaco headed into Roland Garros as one of the hottest clay-court players in the business. Knowing that it would not be wise to rally with the Argentine from the backcourt, Tsonga came out playing extremely aggressive tennis. The No. 9 seed approached the net 24 times in the first set and won 16 of those points. Tsonga finished the opening frame of play with his second break of the day at 6-5, after firing 21 winners in the first 12 games.
Monaco, however, wrested control of the match from Tsonga early in the second. The world No. 68 kept Tsonga away from the net with deep groundstrokes and he used two breaks of serve to level the match without any trouble.
While unforced errors had begun creeping into Tsonga's game during set two, the Frenchman put on a display of near flawless tennis in the third. He put in a ridiculous 91 percent of his first serves, lost only five points in four service games, and committed only four errors. Two breaks--despite Monaco serving at 88 percent--were more than enough for the crowd favorite to take a two sets to one lead.
With momentum in hand, Tsonga seemed poised to sprint to victory. Always a fighter, however, Monaco refused to go away quietly after going down an early break in the fourth set. The underdog got it back with Tsonga serving at 3-2, and from there both players held the rest of the way with ease. In fact, starting with Tsonga serving at 3-4, the two competitors combined for four straight love service holds.
The ensuing tiebreaker was in no way short on drama. Tsonga earned an immediate mini-break for a 1-0 advantage, but promptly gave away both of his service points. Monaco then took care of his next two tries on serve, building a 4-1 lead. With a fifth set looming, Tsonga slugged his way back into the 'breaker with a flurry of shocking forehands. Starting with Monaco ahead 6-5, the two players took turns saving set points (match points in Monaco's case) on serve. Tsonga finally earned a match point on his own serve when Monaco dumped a routine forehand into the net at 9-9. Tsonga then took control of a furious rally, ended it with a forehand smash volley, and collapsed to the Terre Battue in triumph.
With the French fans nothing short of delirious, an impressively prolonged exchange between Tsonga and Monaco took place at the net.
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Re: Tsonga's next opponent....it should be noted that the fans were rooting for Rochus against Clement.
Say what you will about the French fans, but you have to give them credit for that!
RickyDimon , 5/28/09 11:23 PM
any surprises from Tsonga during presser :)
posmatrac , 5/28/09 11:42 PM
I'm very happy that Tsonga won this match!!! He is such a good guy... Will be interesting to see what else comes of it at Roland Garros...
sky , 5/28/09 11:43 PM
do you know sky...i really thought monaco was gonna pull it off....it was a G-R-I-P-P-I-N-G match....Monaco is definitely one to watch..he HOT! HOT! HOT!...
I do like Tsonga's play..but sometimes he irritates me when he works it with the crowd.......great play tho' from him today...and a LOVELY touch at the end of the match over the net....these two...really nice sentiments, smiles,hugs, handholding..you know the usual bonding these males do!!!!!!!!!!!!! FAIRPLAY!!!!!!
malteser1 , 5/29/09 12:00 AM
Monaco v Tsonga was exciting, great match-up and yes I got my first good look at Monaco in action . Class act at the end of the duel. Tsonga has lots of admirers here.
zoey234 , 5/29/09 12:43 AM
Tsonga is very dangerous player, I do love his tennis, but Monaco is really very hot one, somehow I felt sorry he didn't get it today, but show must go on...
gordana , 5/29/09 9:23 AM
was the first time I watched Monaco play too, he reminds me of the FED, he has a cetain style/flair about him, was fun to watch...
sky , 5/29/09 11:19 AM
Hooray! Tsonga is my second fave! What a charismatic entertainer!
deuce , 5/29/09 2:30 PM
sky.....monaco is one to watch for the foreseeable future...he is a B-E-A-S-T and he will have his day...sooner rather than later.....here's a prediction.....in the hard court season...if he in same draw as murray in cincy..he gonna beat him....just have a feeling......he has power and aggression...with a little bit of a twist to his play....sort of a dancer....as you say...a bit like fed....
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it should be pointed out that Tsonga finished with 12 more winners than errors (an awesome ration against Monaco AND on clay), while Monaco finished with just 21 errors in over three hours.
RickyDimon , 5/28/09 11:16 PM