Tsonga proves a real fighter after low blow

Tsonga proves a real fighter after low blow

For a man with a passing resemblance to boxing great Muhammad Ali, France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga proved a consummate fighter as he recovered from a low blow to punch his way off the ropes and push Andy Murray hard in his Wimbledon semi-final on Friday.

The powerfully built Frenchman collapsed on Centre Court as he served for the third set in his 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-5 defeat, struck in the groin region by a thumping Murray shot while trying to duck and dive at the net.

After a lengthy pause, the world number six dragged himself up from the turf to serve out the set and he went mighty close to stretching the contest to a fifth set before eventually being counted out in the fourth.

"I will have a revenge one time," was Tsonga's light-hearted response to being sent to the canvass midway through the scrap.

The Frenchman had to battle a partisan crowd who rallied behind Murray's bid to become the first British man to reach a Wimbledon final since 1938, but he still endeared himself to the home support with his all-action displays and winning smile.

He will not, however, be tuning in to watch the tournament's final round, when Murray faces Roger Federer on Sunday.

"For me, it's finish," said Tsonga after losing in the semi-final for the second year running.

"I will be on holiday. I have a little niece. She's two years old and I saw her only two times. So I will take some time to enjoy the other part of my life."

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Tsonga sees off Kohlschreiber, ready for Murray

Tsonga sees off Kohlschreiber, ready for Murray

 

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, used to being a crowd pleaser, was not concerned about finding himself on the wrong side of fans after sealing a Wimbledon semi-final against home favourite Andy Murray on Wednesday.

The spectre of the possible match-up loomed throughout fifth seed Tsonga's gritty 7-6 4-6 7-6 6-2 quarter-final win over German Philipp Kohlschreiber.

The breaks between games on Court One were punctuated with groans or cheers from the crowd whenever details of Murray's match against Spaniard David Ferrer were shown on the scoreboard.
In one unfortunate incident, Tsonga netted a forehand just as a huge cheer erupted from Centre Court, where Murray and Ferrer were locked in battle, to the amusement of the watching fans.
"Sometimes I play against a player who has a lot of support and I win," Frenchman Tsonga said.
"I remember at the US Open I played against (Mardy) Fish in a tight match. It was not easy, but I won it.
"It's of course an advantage to play at home but it's still tennis and you never know what will happen on court," said Tsonga, whose only victory over the Briton in six matches was at the 2008 Australian Open.
"Andy's one of the players I don't like to play because he's returning really well and he can play some really good passing shots.
"He's really quick. He's all the time on the ball, so it's tough for me.
"But I beat him once and last time we played together on grass, I had a match point and it was really close," added Tsonga, referring to last year's final at Queen's.
"I will have a chance. I mean, on 100 percent I have maybe less than him, but I will have some and I will try to take it."
Tsonga's match against Kohlschreiber was an engrossing if sometimes scrappy encounter.
The obviously relieved Frenchman performed his customary victory jig around the court after breaking Kohlschreiber for the second time in the fourth set.
Tsonga sealed victory on his first match point after rushing to the net and firing a forehand crosscourt winner to seal victory in two hours 48 minutes.
"It was difficult today. Philipp played well, he served well, he was better than me on the baseline, he was very aggressive," Tsonga said.
"But I'm through and I'm happy. It's a second chance after last year," added the 27-year-old, who lost to Djokovic in the semis in 2011.
He took a while to get into his stride, struggling with his first serve and forehand, which went straight into the net more times than he will care to remember.
For three sets, 27th-seed Kohlschreiber was a match for his higher-ranked opponent and appeared happy to come into the net or to slug out from the baseline with Tsonga.
The German saved five break points in the third set, three thanks to Tsonga netting forehands, and the final one with a delectable backhand volley.
But Tsonga, who had a 5-1 career record against Kohlschreiber, took the tiebreak when his opponent netted and that seemed to galvanise the French number one.
He raced through the fourth set, breaking Kohlschreiber for a 3-1 lead and the German sent a forehand long to set up matchpoint for Tsonga.
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Past Olympics greats inspire players of today

Past Olympics greats inspire players of today

 World number one Novak Djokovic had no doubts when asked to pick his all-time Olympic hero - Italian slalom skier Alberto Tomba.

Roger Federer was equally certain about his choice, opting for fellow Swiss tennis player Marc Rosset, who won gold in the men's singles at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Unable to narrow it down to an individual, Rafal Nadal selected the entire Spanish Olympic team at the Barcelona Games after their 13-gold medal winning return.

To mark the July 27-August 12 London Games, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has asked 35 of the world's top players to explain what the Olympics meant to them and who inspired them the most.

The glossy volume is also liberally illustrated with intriguing shots of them posing with childhood pictures.

"I'm holding a white tennis ball. You can imagine how long a time ago that was," said Federer, recalling the tennis club where he practiced as a child.

Federer, who met his wife at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, was the picture of unbridled joy in Beijing when he and compatriot Stanlislas Wawrinka won the men's doubles. It clearly meant as much as a grand slam victory.

"We're not playing for any money, we're playing for the love of the game," he said of his Olympic experience.

In the book titled: "“Inspire, Aspire: celebrating tennis at the Olympics 2012", four-times gold medal winner Michael Johnson is the most popular athlete selected, the American runner picked by Andy Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils.

Next in line comes swimmer Michael Phelps, who was chosen by last year's Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and Caroline Wozniacki.

The globe-trotting players in one of the world's most glamorous sports may be the envy of many but all of them appear star-struck when it comes to the Olympics.

Used to five-star hotels as they jet around the world in opulent isolation, they revelled in the intimate democracy of the Athletes' Village.

Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro cannot wait.

"To just be at the village and be part of the big event will be like a dream for me," the former U.S. Open champion said.

Nadal agreed.

"Life in the village is the best experience. For me to be there with all the sports families in the world is something great."

Johnson's advice to Murray is pure and simple when it comes to handling the pressure.

"Looking back, my advice would be to do everything in your power to make the most of the opportunities to make history in front of the home crowd."

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Tsonga reels in Fish to reach Wimbledon quarter-finals

Tsonga reels in Fish to reach Wimbledon quarter-finals

 

Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat American Mardy Fish to reach the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for the third year running on Tuesday - finally prevailing after countless rain delays.

Fifth seed Tsonga lost the opening set on Monday before play was abandoned but returned at lunchtime on Tuesday to gradually reel in Fish and claim a 4-6 7-6 6-4 6-4 victory.

The match hinged on the second set tiebreak when Tsonga warmed up the crowd with some inspired tennis to level on a cool and drizzly Court Two.

Tsonga saved break points before serving out the third set and then forged 4-2 ahead in the fourth before rain returned to halt his progress.

When the skies eventually lightened Tsonga knocked off the two games he needed to set up a quarter-final against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber.

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Battling Hewitt crumbles against mighty Tsonga

Battling Hewitt crumbles against mighty Tsonga

 

 Former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt, reduced to being a wildcard at the tournament he won 10 years ago, could never match the firepower of number five seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who eased to a 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory in the first round on Tuesday.

But the gritty Australian is certainly not ready to say goodbye to the place that means so much to him.

Coming off Number One court, he heard that he had also been given a wildcard to the Olympics at Wimbledon next month.

"At least I get to play here again. That is a bonus," he told reporters.

Hewitt scuttles around the court like a feisty terrier, never giving up and chasing every ball to the ends of the court.

That doggedness brought him two grand slam victories, the 2001 U.S. Open and Wimbledon the following year. It also armed him with the determination to battle against a string of injuries from groin problems to toe surgery.

"I'm proud of myself for what I have been able to do, all the hard work it's taken to get here," he said.

A 30-strong army of Hewitt fans, sporting green and yellow shirts and baseball caps in the colours of the Australian flag, chanted; "Let's Go Lleyton, Let's Go."

But their rousing cheers were never enough to raise the game of the diminutive Hewitt against the mighty Frenchman who is ranked sixth in the world and caused a major shock at Wimbledon last year when he beating Roger Federer after fighting back from two sets down.

Hewitt is 202nd in the world rankings and has won 105 matches on grass. Only Federer of active players, with 106, has more victories on the surface.

His devoted fans chorused "Walking along, singing a song, walking in a Hewitt wonderland."

It was in vain but at 31 years old Hewitt is in no hurry to head off into the sunset.

"I'd like to be back here next year," he said. "Absolutely.

"I'm an athlete. You never love losing. I'm still playing the game to compete, to be out there."

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