Frenchman Tsonga reaches Paris Masters final
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga aiming to win his first Masters Series title
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Saturday, 01, Nov 2008 07:45
Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will compete in the final of the Paris Masters after he powered his way past James Blake in the semi-finals today.
The 23-year-old Australian Open finalist was supported by a patriotic home crowd as he claimed a 6-4 6-3 win to set up a final meeting with the in-form David Nalbandian, who beat Nikolay Davydenko in the other semi-final.
The victory today for Tsonga not only meant he had reached his first Masters Series final, but it also guaranteed his qualification for the end-of-season Masters Cup in Shanghai.
Blake, who had a walkover in the quarter-finals after Roger Federer pulled out through injury, started well by comfortably holding on to his opening service game. But the American was blown away by the ferocity of hitting by Tsonga on his second service game and was broken to love.
That was the only opening Tsonga needed as he held on to his own serve with ease and took the first set 6-4.
Tsonga was even more dominant in the second set and broke Blake in the third and ninth games of the set and took it 6-3 to send the home fans into jubilant celebrations.
"I played fantastic. I really did not expect to play so well," said Tsonga, who is looking to become the first Frenchman to win the Paris Masters since Sebastian Grosjean in 2001.
"I just kept telling myself 'I am not tired.' This is the best performance of my career here at this tournament. I just hope I can pull off another great match tomorrow."