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6/11/11 9:24 PM | Ricky Dimon
Surprising semifinalist James Ward finally meets his match in London. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga advances in two tight sets on Saturday to set up a final clash against Andy Murray.
Jo Wilfried Tsonga booked a spot in the final of the AEGON Championships by defeating James Ward 6-3, 7-6(7) on Saturday afternoon. Tsonga blasted 14 aces and won an amazing 41 of 45 first-serve points to advance in one hour and 22 minutes.
Playing in his first career ATP semifinal, Ward came out understandably the slow. The British wild card dropped his opening service game and quickly found himself trailing 3-0. He held serve the rest of the way in set one, but Tsonga consolidated the advantage with ease from start to finish.
Continuing to play well after the early hiccup, Ward seemed poised to take this one for a third. The world No. 216 raced to a 3-0 lead of his own in set two, but he gave back a break at 4-2. Ward saw one game point in that service effort, but Tsonga fought it off then broke with a crushing forehand. Both players held easily from there en route to a tiebreaker.
Tsonga again had to battle from behind, as a double-fault at 0-1 put him into a hole. The 19th-ranked Frenchman, however, got the mini-break right back for 2-2 and no man had more than a one-point lead the rest of the way until the final margin. After taking turns saving set points at 6-5 and 7-6, Tsonga struck for a clinching mini-break on his second match point when Ward sent a backhand long.
"It was not the best match I did, but it was a semifinal and you have to win this match," said Tsonga, who also took out world No. 1 Rafael Nadal on Friday and will face Andy Murray for the title. "I don't care about my level today, because the most important [thing] was to win. I did it. I'm in the final."
Ward wrapped up his effort--and an impressive tournament--with seven aces and no double-faults.
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