Perfectionist Tsonga has Murray in his sights

[~IronMan~]

Tue, Jun 29 12:17 AM

Enlarge Photo France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga celebrates defeating France's Julien Benneteau at the 2010 Wimbledon tennis championships in... Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, head in hands, studied the score details carefully after beating compatriot Julien Benneteau to reach his first Wimbledon quarter-finals on Monday

The 25-year-old Frenchman was unhappy with his performance and felt he should have served more aces, despite the 6-1 6-4 3-6 6-1 scoreline, and faces the prospect of a lively Centre Court encounter with home favourite Andy Murray.

"I'm all the time like this. Even when I win 6-0 6-0 6-0 it's the same. If I miss one ball sometimes I'm a bit frustrated."

Tenth seed Tsonga is as demonstrative on court, where he curses himself and screams in irritation, as he is charming and softly spoken off it.

After kissing the line with a forehand winner to claim victory on his second match point, Tsonga skipped and danced round sunny court 12, punching the air and applauding the crowd his face wreathed in smiles.

Minutes earlier he had been a picture of exasperation.

"It was not really an easy match. I didn't play really well. But it was good to win because it was against another Frenchman and these matches are always really tight."

Tsonga, bidding to rediscover the form that took him to the final of the Australian Open in 2008, has been beset by injury.

He had to pull out of the French Open fourth round with a back problem but he looked fresh and fit as he raced to a 5-0 lead over Benneteau, who was clearly feeling the effects of the nine hours 31 minutes including two five-set matches spent on court to reach the fourth round.

Tsonga, who regularly plays doubles with Benneteau, took full advantage of his opponent's frailty, wrapping up the set in 21 minutes on the back of some dismal serving from the 32nd seed.

Benneteau loosened up in the third set but could not sustain the momentum and looked tired and out of sorts as Tsonga raced through the fourth to wrap the match up in a minute under two hours.

"There were a fair amount of mistakes from him and from me. I'm satisfied I won but I know I can do better," Tsonga said.

"There are always things to learn - I am sure even the experts on this surface like Roger (Federer) would say they have something they feel they could learn."

Relishing the prospect of an electric atmosphere when he meets fourth seed Murray in the quarter-final, Tsonga said: "He will have the support but because it will have that sort of big atmosphere it will be really cool.

"You play for the chance for these big matches," he said. "And the English crowd are measured; they are not a hostile public," he said.

(Editing by Miles Evans; To query or comment on this story emailsportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)





Powered by WizardRSS | Unlimited Web Hosting