Share

Tsonga seals Rotterdam win with back-to-back aces

Rotterdam - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga laid down back-to back aces on Wednesday to complete a 6-1, 6-4 defeat of Italy's Thomas Fabbiano in the first round of the Rotterdam Open.

The powerful Frenchman who missed seven months last season due to knee surgery and rehab, carried over his momentum from a weekend title in Montpellier, where he beat countryman Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

Tsonga, ranked 140th as he fights back towards the elite, spent 66 minutes in dispatching qualifier Fabbiano.

Tsonga, 33, has been steadily lifting his ATP ranking from its low point of 210 and is playing Rotterdam for the first time since winning the title two years ago.

The Frenchman, one of four former Rotterdam champions on court Wednesday, was pleased with his showing as he won his 10th match from 12 played since the start of the season.

"I played well in the first set and kept my level in the second," he said. "My opponent raised in the second but I held on.

"I've been working hard and trying to spend my time on court in a good way,"

Tsonga next plays Dutch wild card Tallon Griekspoor, who knocked out second seed Karen Khachanov on Tuesday.

The No 211 outsider will be the subject of intensive YouTube viewing sessions from the Tsonga team over the next 24 hours.

"I really don't know about him, but we will work on it. I'm playing good tennis and that's the most important thing for me," Tsonga said.

"I'm happy to win matches and titles - like last week. I know my comeback is still under construction, though."

Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev emerged a winner in his opening match of the week, beating France's Jeremy Chardy 7-6 (7/2), 6-2. Hungarian Marton Fucsovics put out 2016 Rotterdam champion Martin Klizan 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

Medvedev, who turned 22 on Tuesday, came to the Dutch port city with a weekend title to hand after winning his fourth career ATP trophy in Sofia.

With a 12-2 record so far in 2019, he is off to a personal-best season start heading into a match with Fernando Verdasco.

Results from the ATP tournament in Rotterdam on Wednesday (x indicates seeding):

1st rd

Daniil Medvedev (RUS x5) bt Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 7-6 (7/2), 6-2  

Marton Fucsovics (HUN) bt Martin Klizan (SVK) 7-6 (7/4), 6-4  

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) bt Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) 6-1, 6-4

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1471 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2250 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE