Wimbledon 2011: Djokovic beats Tsonga to reach first final
Novak Djokovic overcomes Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets to book his place in his first Wimbledon final
Second seed Novak Djokovic reached his first Wimbledon final after seeing off France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-7 6-3.
The Serb, whose continues his stunning form in 2011, also ensured he will become the new world No1 next week regardless of Sunday’s result.
“This is one of the best feelings I’ve ever had on a tennis court,” said Djokovic. “My dreams are coming true, I’m so happy to be playing well.
“I’ve been working all my life for this. I’ve been dreaming about playing in the final of Wimbledon since I started playing tennis, so to be there on Sunday will probably be the best feeling.”
Djokovic overcame an uncomfortable start as Tsonga, Roger Federer’s conqueror, looked ready to reproduce the sublime tennis which helped him eliminate the six-times SW19 champion in the quarter-finals.
The Serb, perhaps feeling the pressure of being the overwhelming favourite to progress, dropped his first service game.
But Tsonga faltered as he served for the first set at 5-4, allowing Djokovic to break to love to set up a tie-break, which the new world No1 won 7-4.
Djokovic was now in full flow and cantered to the second set 6-2 as the Serb turned up the heat on Tsonga’s serve.
The Australian Open champion, who has still only suffered one defeat this year, then broke Tsonga in the fourth game of the third set.
However, the Serb threw Tsonga a lifeline when serving at 4-3 – the world No12 seized the initiative and broke back. Yet three games later the imperious Djokovic broke once again to move ahead 6-5.
But Djokovic was unable to serve out the match as Tsonga forced another tie-break.
Djokovic raced to an early lead in the decider but Tsonga, who had to fight off two match points, held firm before seizing the initiative and claiming the set with a ferocious first serve.
The Serb broke Tsonga in the second game of the fourth and sped to into 3-0 lead as Djokovic contained Tsonga’s battling play in sublime fashion.
There were to be no mistakes this time round as Djokovic sealed his place in Sunday’s showdown, against either Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray, with a fizzing serve which Tsonga could barely get a racquet to.
