Masters Cup

Gold Group result:

J Del Potro (Arg) bt J-W Tsonga (Fra)

7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5)

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the action

By Chris Bevan

1208: "Del Potro thoroughly deserved his win - his approach throughout the whole match was much more positive than Tsonga, who made far too many errors. "
Judy Murray on 5 Live Sports Extra

Second Set:

Del Potro 7-6 7-6 (7-5) Tsonga
We are on serve at 2-3 after mistakes from both players but Del Potro claims the first mini-break with a rasping backhand down (and on to) the line on the run for a brilliant winner that leaves Tsonga cursing. A mistake by the Frenchman gives Del Potro two serves for the match at 5-2 but he double-faults with his first and two big serves by Tsonga kept him alive at 5-6. That is only delaying the inevitable, however, as a big serve by the Argentine is followed up by an overhead that gives him victory.

So Del Potro has done it - he claims his first win at the Masters Cup but Tsonga now has two defeats from his two Gold Group matches so far and his hopes of reaching the semi-finals are all but over.

Del Potro 7-6 6-6 Tsonga
Tsonga smashes down three big serves to reach 40-0 and although he hits a wayward backhand on his next shot he still holds comfortably. We are heading for another tie-break folks.

"This is attacking tennis. sheer pleasure, though I still am convinced Del Potro is nothing but a baseline grinder."
coolpixel on 606
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Del Potro 7-6 6-5 Tsonga
Tsonga is playing some brilliant tennis to hold his serve but he is not getting near Del Potro at the moment - the Argentine holds easily and he has only dropped two points in his last three service games now.

Del Potro 7-6 5-5 Tsonga
Tsonga is in at the net to take the first point but a rasping forehand by Del Potro and another poor forehand by the Frenchman puts him in trouble at 15-30. His response is typically flamboyant - a Pete Sampras style slam-dunk smash to wrap up the next point and he is airborne again to make it 40-30 with a tidy volley. Great to watch and he gets lucky in the next point to hold when Del Potro puts an easy crosscourt backhand passing shot the wrong side of the tramline.

"Del Potro asked Tsonga some real questions there - that was the sort of game the Frenchman needed at 4-4 to put pressure on the Del Potro serve."
Leander Paes on 5 Live Sports Extra

Del Potro 7-6 5-4 Tsonga
He may be playing with his brain on serve but, when it comes to returning the Del Potro delivery, Tsonga is none too clever - three unforced forehand errors gift the Argentine the game and the Frenchman's response is to rage to himself on the baseline. Tsonga will serve to stay in this match next.

Del Potro 7-6 4-4 Tsonga
Tsonga is backing up his big serve with some clever volleying now and Del Potro does not get even a sniff of a break in this one. Tsonga is belting his second serves down at the same pace as his first delivery too - he obviously feels power is the key to beating the Argentine. He does throw in one double fault but his strategy is definitely working.

"Some very smart play by Tsonga - he looks like he is starting to think a lot more clearly about what he has to do to get the better of Del Potro"
Judy Murray on 5 Live Sports Extra

Del Potro 7-6 4-3 Tsonga
Del Potro seems keen to keep rattling through his service games (understandably) and picks up the first three points without too much trouble. Tsonga digs in, however, and you cannot fault the Frenchman's attacking play - one point sees him thump a big forehand into the corner and stroll majestically into the net to flick home a backhand volley winner. He repeats the tactic on the next point but this time his volley only finds the net and Del Potro holds.

Del Potro 7-6 3-3 Tsonga
Tsonga's big serve is keeping him right in this match and he holds to love, again. Del Potro has a bit of a chat with the umpire over a line-call out on his right tramline but it makes little difference - blink and you would have missed that game.

Del Potro 7-6 3-2 Tsonga
It is Tsonga who has the momentum now but Del Potro's serve is back on song and a couple of groundstrokes into the net by the Frenchman mean the Argentine holds, easily enough.

Del Potro 7-6 2-2 Tsonga
Morning all. Well, Sarah's been sent on an intensive course so she can identify the world's top tennis players in future (a bit late for that I fear) so I am here to take you through the rest of this match. No problem for Tsonga on serve as he consolidates his break-back and he is level in this second set now.

By Sarah Holt

1124: Alas, I have to leave you now but my able assistant Chris Bevo is on hand to take you through to the end of the match. It's been brief but thank you!

Del Potro 7-6 2-1 Tsonga
Tsonga lashes down a big forehand to move to 15-30 on Del Potro's serve. It's the Argentine's time to wobble as he misses an easy overhead at 15-40. A wide passing attempt by Tsonga and an unreturnable forehand from Del Potro snuffs out the threat at 40-40. Del Potro goes long and then nets a return to hand Tsonga the break back. After another blip, Tsonga's right back into this.

Del Potro 7-6 2-0 Tsonga
Tsonga opens his first game with a double fault. You have to hope the big-hitting Frenchman hasn't lost his focus here because that first set was a really entertaining contest. Del Potro gathers two break points as Tsonga drifts the ball into the net at 40-15. Another backhand error sees the Argentine gratefully accept the break. Can Tsonga pick himself up from this?

Del Potro 7-6 1-0 Tsonga
Del Potro has a spring in his step now. He races to 40-15 in the opening game of the second set and Tsonga skips the ball long to hand him the game.

First Set:

1111: "For me it was real mental fragility from Tsonga there. The moment he missed the forehand at 3-1 up his head went down and he was dinging his racquet against his legs. The momentum was with Del Potro from then on in."
Judy Murray on Five Live Sports Extra

Del Potro 7-6 (7-4) Tsonga
Tsonga gets the breaker under way with an ace - what else? No such luck for Del Potro as he hands his French opponent a mini-break at 2-1 with a double fault.

Tsonga mutters to himself as he nets to see his 3-1 lead whittled back to 3-3. A wobble from Tsonga sees him dump a backhand into the net at 4-3. Another wild shot from the Frenchman and Del Potro takes a 5-3 lead.

The Argentine picks up Tsonga's lob but the ball just slides into the tram-lines. Del Potro moves to set-point with a decent serve at 6-4. Another big serve and Tsonga pumps the return into the net to hand Del Potro the first set 7-4. After such a lengthy set they rattled through the tie-break at quite a pace.

Del Potro 6-6 Tsonga
You have to feel sorry for the spectators in Shanghai, every time the players sit down they are treated to a blast from the past. At the last change of ends it was Gloria Estefan. No wonder the crowd are shy about turning up. . . The players don't seem to be getting too distracted and Del Potro rattles off his service game to set up the tie-break.

Del Potro 5-6 Tsonga
The linesman is not such a happy chappy this time; as Tsonga challenges again and the replay shows his serve just clipped the line. That was his 11th ace of the match, by the way, and sees him hold with ease.

Del Potro 5-5 Tsonga
It's still tight as you like out there. Del Potro holds to love and what would you say to a first-set tie-break?

1052: "We've come into the business end of this first set and I think Tsonga can turn on a few things here. He's got a little more firepower and flair."
Leander Paes on Five Live Sports Extra

Del Potro 4-5 Tsonga
Tsonga makes his first challenge of the match and the linesman gives a cheeky grin to the camera as his "out" call is judged to be correct by the Hawk-Eye replay. There are no more mistakes as a flurry of whopping serves sees the French world number seven hold to love.

Del Potro 4-4 Tsonga
Tsonga tries to get in on the Del Potro serve but he only manages to nick a point when the Argentine double faults. Another unreturnable serve from Del Potro takes the set to 4-4, and it still remains difficult to call.

Del Potro 3-4 Tsonga
Wow, Tsonga is fired up now. He whacks down his third ace in a row to hold. No chance for Del Potro.

Del Potro 3-3 Tsonga
There is some very half-hearted waving of Masters Cup paper flag going on amongst the scattered crowd. It looks like this set has settled down a bit now as Del Potro effortless holds to 15.

1040: "Better now for J-W. In particular that huge inside-out forehand is working well."
Philosophicalarfster on 606
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Del Potro 2-3 Tsonga
This is a bit of a turnaround for Tsonga. He looks like he is back in control of his own game as he holds to edge ahead for the first time in the match.

Del Potro 2-2 Tsonga
Del Potro is struggling with his first serve and a deft drop volley at the net brings up the first break chance for Tsonga. Del Potro is pushed right back behind the baseline and Tsonga unleashes an unstoppable forehand across the court to break back.

1031: "Going 2 be a cracker this one. Del Potro has had a great year, Tsonga too. Potro to edge it though"
Ed via text

Del Potro 2-1 Tsonga
Del Potro is certainly the livelier player out there as he passes Tsonga with a fizzing forehand at 40-30. Tsonga gets on the board though as he wraps up the game with an ace. The players head back to their seat while a blast of Blondie wakes up the sparse crowd in Shanghai.

Del Potro 2-0 Tsonga
Tsonga gets right down to it and puts enough pressure on Del Potro to take him to 0-30. The Argentine is no push over though and he digs himself out of trouble and holds as Tsonga's attempted drop-shot is well short. Tsonga is sloping his shoulders and hanging his head like a hormonal teenager - oh dear.

Del Potro 1-0 Tsonga
A backhand error from Tsonga takes him to deuce. It's a shaky start from the Frenchman and Del Potro gets his first break point as Tsonga goes wide.

A pair of aces and a double fault take Tsonga back to deuce, but he blitzes a forehand long and nets a volley to surrender the break. A lot of unforced errors off the ground from the Frenchman and if that game is anything to go by we could be in for a long session here. I'd advise putting the kettle on.

1009: In case you wondered what the hold up is, well, the players are still warming up. Del Potro is slinging down some big serves while Tsonga, in a dazzling lime green and white ensemble, looks pretty relaxed as he sends some easy serves over the net.

1006: "Del Potro and Tsonga are quite similar. They are two up-and-coming young stars but for me they haven't quite arrived yet - unlike Andy Murray. They haven't beaten the top players consistently yet."
Leander Paes on Five Live Sports Extra

1002: Through the dry ice swirling the Qi Zhong stadium come Tsonga and Del Potro, ready for action. Tsonga wins the toss and the Frenchman elects to serve.

0955: "Jo is usually one to perform come the big occasions, and has a decent draw, so I see him making the semis here."
The Nameless One on 606

0950: Hello there. We are Shanghai-bound for the second lot of round-robin matches at the season-ending Masters Cup.

First up at the Qi Zhong stadium are new kids on the block Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Martin del Potro - the world number seven and eight, respectively.

Novak Djokovic and Nikolay Davydenko complete the day's action in the Gold Group when they take to the court around midday.

The opening match should be a cracker with both players out to notch up their first Masters Cup win after losses in the first round (Djokovic beat Del Potro and Davydenko defeated Tsonga).

I reckon it'll be pretty tight but who do you think will come out on top?
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