By Christopher Lancette
MONTREAL – What if Hollywood sold tickets to the public for a week-long gala with the absolute biggest stars in the business – and 75 percent of them left before the weekend even arrived?
That’s what the Rogers Cup is facing now that No. 3 Roger Federer has fallen from the Quebec sky. Nemesis Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France followed up his Wimbledon triumph over Federer with a 7-6, 4-6, 6-1 victory that advances him to the quarterfinal round. Federer’s exit follows those of No. 2 Rafael Nadal and No. 4 Andy Murray.
No. 16 Tsonga used a steady, aggressive game to sack Federer and control this match more than he has any of his three victories against him.
 Tsonga leaps for joy after win over Federer. |
“That is the match I played best,” he said of the three wins. “I really played good tonight. I was opportunistic. I didn’t miss any opportunities I had. I was able to break before he did. I’m very happy the way I won this match.”
Tsonga broke Federer in the second game of the third set to go up 2-0 and then held serve. Up 3-0 but behind 15-30 in the next game, Tsonga showed off some wheels: He raced down a Federer shot and hit a backhand winner. Tsonga went up 4-0 a moment later when Federer drilled a backhand into the net. Federer’s body language showed he was done but he did manage to hold one service game in the final set.
Was Federer surprised to lose to Tsonga in consecutive contests?
“I don’t know,” he said. “I mean, he beat me at Wimbledon. So I don’t know how much of a surprise it is. He’s playing well. I thought if he was going to play well again, me not at my best, he could do it again. It’s not like he’s beating me the first time.”
Few in attendance would have guessed that Tsonga would emerge victorious after a thrilling second set that appeared to give Federer the momentum.
Up 4-3, Federer opened the eighth game by tapping into his inner Gael Monfils on the most spectacular point of the evening. Federer raced from the baseline toward the net at the left sideline to cover a Tsonga drop shot. Tsonga pushed a would-be volley winner back to the spot Federer just came from – sending Federer scrambling back at a diagonal angle toward the corner of the court. Federer hit a trademark between-the-legs shot that drew a Tsonga drop volley, which Federer tracked down and lobbed. Tsonga leaped up for an overhead but buried it in the net.
Federer and Tsonga traded the next several points and Tsonga took the advantage … until Tsonga fired a bullet to Federer’s shoe strings that the Swiss dug out with a backhand scoop volley winner. Federer finished the game and took a 5-3 lead with a one-two punch of a forehand winner up the line and a service winner. Tsonga held his next serve and Federer won the set on his.
In the first set, Federer could not capitalize on several break point opportunities. Tsonga fought them off and then blasted a backhand winner to force a tie breaker. Federer made a couple of unforced errors in the tie-breaker, costing him the opener.
The third set wasn’t heavily contested.
“Well, he’s confident right now and he played an excellent third set,” Federer said. “The first two sets were tighter. I should maybe have won the first one. I had some opportunities. In the second I was able to hold my serve. I might have won, but he was able to finish off the match very well.”
Tsonga said there are lessons he’s drawing from the wins against Federer that he can apply to other top opponents.
“You know, just keep the way I play, just be aggressive all the time, take the control early in the point,” said. “That’s it.”
Tsonga faces No. 10 Nicolas Almagro of Spain in the quarterfinals on Friday evening.
“I’m happy now to be in the quarterfinals,” Tsonga said. “It was a tough draw to have Federer in the Round of 16. I’m going to rest and hope to play a good match tomorrow.”
The only top four player left in the tournament? Novak Djokovic. He advanced today with a 7-5, 6-2 over Marin Cilic.
Visit www.rogerscup.com to see the rest of the matchups for Friday.
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Photo credit © Won-ok Kim
