Tsonga beats Nalbandian to win Paris Masters

By JEROME PUGMIRE PARIS
Tennis Results, AP - 3 months ago

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat defending champion David Nalbandian 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to win the Paris Masters on Sunday and qualify for the season-ending Masters Cup.

The 13th-seeded Tsonga clinched his second career title and became the first Frenchman since Sebastien Grosjean in 2001 to win the indoor tournament in Bercy.

He clinched the victory when Nalbandian hit into the net after having missed three break points.

"I think everyone contributed to my victory today, this one's for you," Tsonga told the home crowd. "This ends a great season for me. I've played really well and the cherry on the cake is that I will go to Shanghai."

Nalbandian was gracious in defeat.

"He's a great player and has played brilliantly all week," the Argentine said. "He deserves this title."

Tsonga joins seven other players for the Masters Cup in Shanghai, starting Nov. 9, while Nalbandian missed his chance to qualify.

The eighth-seeded Nalbandian had only four aces compared to 25 for Tsonga, the Australian Open runner-up.

Tsonga broke Nalbandian's serve for a 2-1 lead in the deciding set, but Nalbandian came back and had Tsonga down 0-40 in the 10th game. Tsonga saved all three break points and then hit an ace to set up match point and get the crowd on its feet.

Tsonga's first serve flew into the net, but his second pinned Nalbandian to the back of the court and the 23-year-old Frenchman won the rally.

Nalbandian couldn't match Tsonga's start to the match, dropping serve with a double fault to trail 2-0 in the first set.

Nalbandian served an ace to save a break point in the opening game of the second set before both players found their range with four straight love service games.

Tsonga rallied with four aces to hold for 4-4, was 0-40 down again in the 10th game, and Nalbandian broke him to even the match.