World Number eight, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga saved five match points in a breathtaking third set tie-break to edge Australian Bernard Tomic and qualify for the Marseille Open semifinals on Friday.
— Supersport
The third-seeded Frenchman, who lost the first set, eventually grabbed the tie-break 12-10 to seal a 4-6 6-3 7-6 victory after two hours five minutes.
Tsonga, who had won his only previous encounter with the 46th-ranked Tomic, made the most of his opportunities to beat the 21-year-old Australian, one of the most exciting youngsters in tennis.
“I found the way to stay in this match and it’s not just a miracle. He will tell you that I played well on these points,” Tsonga told reporters.
“In moments like these, you need to be brave to overcome your fear and I, personally, have to play more aggressive (sic).”
Tsonga will face Gilles Simon in the semifinal after his compatriot upset title holder Juan Martin Del Potro 6-4 6-3.
Simon did not drop his serve once and was in total control while the former US Open winner tried some ineffective sliced backhands.
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