Wimbledon: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga recovers and eases into last eight

Published on 04/07/2012 00:00

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga overcame a one-set deficit and an injury scare to cruise past Mardy Fish and earn a quarter-final place at Wimbledon.

Tsonga started a set down after Monday’s downpour, but he recovered to record a 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 6-4 victory despite two lengthy rain delays to the Court Two action.

The win, which pits him against Philipp Kohlschreiber in the last eight, came at a cost, however, as Tsonga needed to have treatment on a back injury that troubled him throughout the clash.

Fish had stunned Tsonga with some excellent tennis to move a set ahead on Monday, but last year’s semi-finalist flew out of the blocks yesterday, breaking in the opening game by tucking away a neat volley after charging the net.

A near hour-long rain delay knocked the fifth seed out of his stride, allowing Fish to break, but Tsonga powered three aces down to win the tie-break.

Tsonga grimaced throughout the breaker and needed treatment straight after, but it was Fish whose form suffered as a result. The 10th seed handed an improved Tsonga two break points and he snapped up the second when Fish mishit a forehand.

Tsonga rescued two break points to wrap up the third set before Fish went off for seven minutes with an injury.

When he returned, Tsonga broke with an aggressive forehand and the Frenchman looked poised to romp to victory before drizzle returned at 3.08pm and play was suspended.

Two hours later the players returned and Tsonga held out reasonably comfortably, clinching the match with a 128mph ace – his 20th of the clash – which he followed up with his trademark celebratory dance.

Florian Mayer finished off Frenchman Richard Gasquet to line up a quarter-final against top seed Novak Djokovic, who was a winner on Monday against fellow Serbian Victor Troicki.

Mayer claimed the first two sets before the Frenchman hit back in the third, but the German held on to win 6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.