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6/12/11 3:51 AM | Ricky Dimon
Both Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga have scored signature victories this week in London. Their reward is a title clash on Sunday afternoon.
Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be squaring off for the sixth time in their careers when they meet in the final of the AEGON Championships on Sunday. Murray leads the head-to-head series 4-1, including 1-0 on grass.
They faced each other last year in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, with Murray prevailing 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 6-2, 6-2. Tsonga's lone victory over Murray came in the first round of the 2008 Australian Open, where a 7-5, 6-4, 0-6, 7-6(5) upset propelled the Frenchman to a surprise runner-up finish.
ATP finals have been few and far between for these two in 2011, but they are both stepping up their games just in time for Wimbledon. Murray suffered a blowout loss to Novak Djokovic in the Aussie final and did not recover until the clay-court swing. The fourth-ranked Scot reached the Roland Garros semis and is showing no signs of slowing down on his more preferred surface of grass. So far this week he has dismissed Xavier Malisse, Janko Tipsarevic, and--most impressively--Andy Roddick.
Tsonga finished runner-up to Robin Soderling in Rotterdam four months ago but has been in mediocre form ever since. Despite a blown two-set lead against Stanislas Wawrinka at the French Open, this appears to be a rejuvenated Tsonga. The world No. 19 has taken out Michael Berrer, Michael Llodra, top-ranked Rafael Nadal, and James Ward, dropping only one set to Nadal in the process.
"I will play really relaxed because I will play against Andy," Tsonga assured. "For the moment he's better than me, so I have nothing to lose. He's a fantastic player on grass."
Tsonga is taking the right attitude into Sunday's showdown, but he is also correct that he is up against a serious force in Murray. The No. 2 seed was incredible in a 6-3, 6-1 destruction of Roddick and he should have enough to take the title in two competitive sets.
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Pouring with rain all over UK, so goodness knows when we'll get the match :(
deuce , 6/12/11 10:28 AM
No play at Queens until further notice.
nadline , 6/12/11 1:13 PM
So it's raining heavily at UK.
@nadline, this is the positive thing you are talking about and you are spot on. If Rafa won his Qtr & semi matches then he's trapped up to this time at Queens with no assurance when the final is going to play, LOST TIME so to speak.
At least now Rafa is relaxing/enjoying in as much fun as he can around with his family and friends back in Spain.
Vamossss !!!
And good luck to Andy Murray hope he'll play well and win this final ... KEM-OOOON!
Raindrops , 6/12/11 2:23 PM
Raindrops, please change your name to Sunshine, at least temporarily...;)
deuce , 6/12/11 3:13 PM
okay, rain, that's me ready now.
alex , 6/12/11 3:31 PM
lolz deuce.
I'll just keep my mouth shut hoping the rain stops so Andy can collect his Queen's "humungous" coctail hardware ... lolz.
I am siiiiiiiiinging in the Rain !!!
Raindrops , 6/12/11 3:33 PM
Thanx Raindrops :) am sure it'll stop any moment now..
deuce , 6/12/11 3:53 PM
look at odds 1.25 to 3.8 it looks as bookies are heading for a big loss here
isfand , 6/12/11 4:09 PM
Raindrops, apparently your singing has done the job :) It has stopped raining at Queens!
deuce , 6/12/11 4:26 PM
Play has been abandoned until tomorrow.
The poor spectators have been hanging around all day and there is nowhere for them to shelter except for the open stands.
nadline , 6/12/11 6:16 PM
On the week drought was officially declared across the south of England.
alex , 6/12/11 9:59 PM
Wow what a difference between thr way Tsonga plays and the way Roddick plays. Tsonga is doing everything so well, big and hard to read serves, good ROS, good volleying at the net, good chip and charge, moves so quickly around the court. His game really is tailored made for the grass court and most importantly, he can move well on grass. Not many players can move well on grass, I must say. Murray is in for a hard time today!
Can believe how well Tsonga does at the net, Roddick needs to learn something from Tsonga!
luckystar , 6/13/11 2:18 PM
Problem with Tsonga, he's not a clutch player. He lost the tie break against Rafa and now against Murray. When serving for the first set, made so much mistakes and was fortunate to close the first set with a win. Should be getting interesting in the third set. Jo may have stamina issue and his level may drop, let's see.
luckystar , 6/13/11 3:39 PM
Murray has won!
holdserve , 6/13/11 4:23 PM
Congrats to Murray for the win. It's certainly a hard fought victory. As predicted Tsonga couldn't sustain his level of play throughout three sets. Still he plays better this year than his QF at Wimbledon last year. Well bode well for both parties for Wimbledon this year.
luckystar , 6/13/11 4:41 PM
Congratulations to Andy!! And his fans!
Alex, deuce, no comments from you during the match ? :-)
Bodes well indeed for Andy at Wimbledon. And for Tsonga.
Here is to the long-awaited excellent performance of Andy's at Wimbledon.
chlorostoma , 6/13/11 5:07 PM
Cograts to Murray and his fans for winning Queens for the 2nd time.
nadline , 6/13/11 6:39 PM
chlorostoma, was at work so only just saw replay, knowing the result..;) Just as well, that first set..OMG Tsonga serving out of his mind! Andy had something like 10 break points during the match and converted ONE!
What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger, Come On!
deuce , 6/13/11 7:40 PM
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Murray was exceptional yesterday as he can be at times, Roddick looked ridiculously silly out there, totally outclassed, I expect him to take down Tsonga in straight sets today! Tsongas win over Rafa, with all due respect, was because Rafa was VERY tired, mentally foremost, so I wasn't surprised at all for his loss.
afrodite7 , 6/12/11 9:55 AM