TSONGA STUNNER STOPS NADAL

Tsonga stunner stops Nadal
Thursday, 24 January, 2008
By Amy Blake

The underdog story is alive and well at Australian Open 2008 after unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wlfried Tsonga disposed of Spaniard Rafael Nadal with an emphatic 6-2 6-3 6-2 win.
The Frenchman came out firing in the opener easing through his first service game before stealing Nadal's off him.
Long rallies wowed a packed Rod Laver Arena as Tsonga scrambled at the net and played perfect drop shots to leave Nadal pondering at the base line.
With a 2-0 lead, the remainder of the first set went on serve until Tsonga decided to finish it off on Nadal's last service game and with three set points in hand he required only one to make it 6-2.
After a brief toilet break Tsonga returned to the court, displaying the same ballerina-like turns and pirouettes that had troubled Nadal in the opening set.
While both men held their first serve it was the 22-year-old Frenchman who got the crowd roaring, urging them to cheer him on.
He decided to make his move while leading at 4-3 and at 40-30 up it was the powerful overhead smash that had Nadal reeling and questioning his renowned forehand.
With three aces and an unforced error from the opposite side of the net handing him the second set at 6-3 the 21-year-old Spaniard was left laughing in disbelief and the crowd giving Tsonga a standing ovation.
Another toilet break for Tsonga and he was back and pumped for set three, while Nadal tried to lift his game.
With two break point opportunities for Nadal in Tsonga's first service game at 15-40 it looked like the No.2 seed was ready to make his move. But a series of unforced errors handed the advantage back, thus ending Nadal's remaining chances.
Tsonga made his first break straight after and although Nadal was able to hold unto his third service game and make it 3-2, he couldn't follow through on the fist pumping and encouragement he fed to himself.
Going with the flow of play, Tsonga broke again taking a 5-2 lead, requiring only one hold of serve to advance to his first Grand Slam final.
He eased to 40-15 in the last game and with a booming ace, just like that, he became a worldwide sensation.
Reacting slowly and in awe of his own efforts at first Tsonga eventually warmed into what has become his trademark jumping and thumbs-up celebration.
Tsonga, who came into the tournament ranked No.38, will next face World No.1 Roger Federer or No.3 Novak Djokovic in the final on Sunday night.



Current Match on Rod Laver Arena Rod Laver Arena - Men's Singles - Semifinals


Jo-Wilfried Tsonga FRA 6 6 6
Rafael Nadal ESP (2) 2 3 2

Match Facts

- Tsonga served 17 aces to Nadal’s 2
- The Frenchman converted 5 of 7 break points while Nadal was unsuccessful with 0 of 3
- In the second set Tsonga had 22 winners and 11 unforced errors to Nadal’s two winners and one unforced error
- Both players committed only one double fault for the match
- The match lasted one hour and 57 minutes