Tsonga through to Open final

Stockholm - Top-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France advanced to the Stockholm Open final on Saturday after Marcos Baghdatis retired with an injury in the deciding set of their semifinal.

Baghdatis withdrew after taking a medical timeout with Tsonga leading 6-4, 4-6, 5-2. He had picked up a left-groin strain at 4-2 in the decider, on a break point on Tsonga's serve.

"These things happen sometimes, I hope he recovers fast," said Tsonga, who recorded his fourth win over Baghdatis in as many meetings.

In the final, the No. 7-ranked Tsonga will play the winner of the other semi between Tomas Berdych and Nicolas Almagro.

"We played some good tennis ... I missed maybe two or three opportunities to finish off the match a bit earlier. But I'm pleased with my performance.

"I hope I'll be able to play like this (in the final)," added Tsonga.

It was the first serious test in the tournament for Tsonga, who made his debut in the Swedish capital this week.

Having lost the second set to Baghdatis, Tsonga broke to 2-0 in the decider thanks to a double-fault by the Cypriot opponent. He then fought off a break point on his own service game to make it 3-0.

Leading 4-2 on serve, Tsonga saved a dramatic break point with a crosscourt forehand that Baghdatis failed to catch and injured himself trying.