Tsonga tames Federer in three

Roger Federer’s exit from the French Open was as tame and brief as his fight to make it to the quarters had been wild and long. And his opponent Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s game was as clear and clean as Federer’s was unkept and error-ridden.

That it should be Tsonga who beat the 2009 Roland Garros Champion is both a surprise and not one. Tsonga has beaten Federer in a Major, at the Wimbledon quarter final stage in 2010 no less, and he has the aggressive, powerful, all-court game that on its day can beat the best in the world as multiple wins over Federer, Nadal and Djokovic testify. Yet despite his ability, the Frenchman often flatters to deceive, playing well up to a point before going away, or not appearing at all. For evidence witness his loss to Djokovic at this stage of Roland Garros last year when he failed to convert no less than four match points on his way to defeat, or look at his Major record since the Australian Open 08: nine exits before the quarter final.

But armed with a new coach in Roger Rasheed, Tsonga has improved his weaknesses, namely his backhand, and harnessed his strengths. And playing a Federer on a reduced schedule in the quarters of his home slam was a great chance to show off his improved game.

And show off he did. Fighting back from 4-2 in the first set, his heavy forehand attacking the Federer backhand and breaking it down, his forays to the net whenever the chance arose putting the Swiss under pressure, Tsonga did not let an opportunity to shine slip. He broke at 6-5, a missed forehand down the line from Federer gifting him his fourth set point and a shanked Federer forehand handing him the set. With his own aggressive play and Federer’s errors, Tsonga capitalised further in the second set, breaking to love in Federer’s opening service game. The Frenchman did not look back. At 5-3, two more Federer forehand errors gave him two set points. He took the first one with a service winner to lead the number two seed by two sets to love.

A deflated Federer tried to change things up a little by coming to the net more but he missed more than he won and before he knew it he double-faulted on break point. Federer rallied in the next game, the smell of imminent defeat putting some spring back into his step, breaking Tsonga with a forehand return winner off a second serve. From a man who can never be written off, this fightback looked promising for a while as Federer stayed with the Frenchman for the first half of the set. At 3-3 though a missed Federer smash and another forehand error handed Tsonga two set points. Federer tried to stave off the first with a drop shot but Tsonga retrieved it and sent it back at Federer, accidentally hitting him in the process. At 5-3, with Federer serving to stay in the tournament, the Swiss hit a backhand volley long and Tsonga held two match points. Federer saved the first with a smash, a brave move considering his previous failure. Perhaps such play might save his skin. But it was not to be. Another error, a backhand hit long, and Tsonga was into his first French Open semi-final.

Unlike in his disaster a year ago, Tsonga did not blink, but the lights were not shone in his eyes. His eyes were certainly shining though after winning the match. A semi-final in his home Major against David Ferrer, against whom he has a 3-1 head to head lead, is a prospect he can look forward to. And if he can produce his best tennis on the day as he had done against Federer then there is a very strong chance that France may have its first male finalist at the French Open since Leconte in ’88, and who knows, maybe their first champion since Noah thirty years ago in ’83, a time before Jo-Wilfred Tsonga was even born.