Jo Wilfried Tsonga dashed Rafa Nadal’s hopes of reaching back to back finals in China, with a thrilling 3 set victory. The Frenchman hadn’t reached a Masters 1000 Final, since winning his only title at that level, in Toronto last year. He also hadn’t beaten Nadal in nearly 4 years, but produced a barrage of over 40 winners, to quell the Mighty Majorcan. Meanwhile in the other SF clash, World No1 Novak Djokovic demolished long-time rival Andy Murray in straight sets, for his 16th successive win and 12th final of 2015.
ATP Shanghai: Day 6 Sat, SFs
Tsonga bt Nadal: 6-4, 0-6, 7-5
Flamboyant Frenchman Jo Wilfried Tsonga, recorded a stunning 3 set win over Rafael Nadal and reach his first Masters Final in over a year.
The former top 10er came through a nailbiter of a match, which had quality points written all over it from start to finish.
Rafa came into Final on the back of a 6-2, 6-1 drubbing of Stan Wawrinka in the QFs. That was his first top 5 win since beating Djokovic in the 2014 Roland Garros Final.
Nadal was also coming back of a brilliant last week in Beijing, where he lost to Novak for the 3rd time in 2015. However despite getting easily beaten by the Serb, it was Rafa’s first hard-court final of the year and first since the Miami Masters of 2014.
Even though he’d gained a lot of confidence from his showing in Beijing, Rafa was unable to contend with Tsonga bludgeoning power in the first set.
Tsonga who famously shocked Nadal in the 2008 AO semi’s, was literally all over Rafa’s serve, jumping at every available opportunity.
Eventually Nadal relented to the constant pressure and Tsonga broke through in the 5th game. This was enough to take the opener by 6-4.
However in the 2nd set, there was a complete U-turn from Nada, as he totally flipped the script on Tsonga.
Turning the match on its head, Rafa went on a rampage, bagelling Tsonga to level the pulsating encounter.
Into the decider and at a set all- the momentum was surely now on Rafa’s side after inflicting a 6-0 set.
But when push came to shove, it was Tsonga who smelt blood first, breaking decisively in the 11th game.
Serving for the match, Tsonga then came up with some French showmanship with a diving volley to bring up MP- later taking it by 7-5.
Djokovic bt Murray: 6-1, 6-3
Tsonga will now face arguably the hardest task in men’s tennis: ‘How to do you beat Novak Djokovic’
The undisputed World No1 was in utterly devastating fashion, as he tore apart Andy Murray in straight sets.
Murray who finally beat Djokovic after more than 2 years, in the final of Montreal in August, was simply blown off the court by the Serbian Ironman.
Short story- Murray managed just 4 games in the 6-1, 6-3 rout, in what was Djokovic’s 5th win over Murray this year. (lost to him at the: Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami and Roland Garros)
World Tennis News: Race to Singapore
- Kerber moves within 1 match of clinching Singapore spot, as Jankovic ends Venus’ hopes.– Venus is currently in the 2nd alternate spot for the WTA Finals, behind Timea Bacszinsky. However, Pliskova and Suarez Navarro could overtake them both for the alternate spots, next week in Moscow. Both Venus and Bacszinsy though have qualified for the WTA Elite Trophy in Zuhai on Nov 2nd.
- Radwanska 1 match away from qualifying, after victory over Karolina Pliskova.
All Things Tennis- from Hamza Shakeel 