Tsonga What a Gun

[Escude]

lol, probably. My point being that he played almost a faultless game against Sampris who was not far off his best at he time. Tsonga had a night out again tonight but at some point it's going to come crashing down.

I completely agree with this.Tsonga played unbelieavable tennis today but its more like adrenaline tennis, when he is on, he is on, like Gonzo... big forehand, solid backhand, great serve but struggles to find consistency. All the power hitters in the world, except federer, struggles with consistency and this why guys like Nadal remains number 2 for such a long time.

 

[Ill Nino]

I LOVE HIM!! I LOVE HIM !!! I LOVE HIM!!!! what an athlete, I hope he beats Federer.

 

[Ill Nino]

Fly like a butterfly, Sting like a bee.

 

[__aria__]

I think the word you guys are looking for is float

 

[Bartram_Class]

Tsonga's a gun, but rather be associated with Ivanovic

Damn Melbourne!

Terrific work from the Marketing Dpt.

 

[giantroo]

I think the word you guys are looking for is float

Thanks for fixing that up.

 

[Thrawn]

Yeah perhaps, but anyone that just watched Tsonga tonight has to still be in awe.

I can barely believe what happened.

I was in awe that he could thrash the #2 player so easily at his own game. But I've seen Federer play like this plenty of times before, perhaps even better... so if anyone can match that guy, he can.

 

[Escude]

I was in awe that he could thrash the #2 player so easily at his own game. But I've seen Federer play like this plenty of times before, perhaps even better... so if anyone can match that guy, he can.

Federer never blasted Nadal out of court. Maybe because his game doesnt match up that well against Rafa, but Tsonga is a total package, he can volley as good as he can rally from the baseline.Give him compliment, i saw Gonzo demolish Rafa last year but rafa still had some chances in that match, today, he didnt have any.

 

[Drummond]

My what short memories we have...

 

[Hot Spenny]

My what short memories we have...

I remember him, what's your point?

 

[Drummond]

I remember him, what's your point?

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=292909&highlight=Gael+Monfils

My point is that this time last year everyone was onboard the Monfils bandwagon, and that’s all but empty now. The Melbourne crowd, and it appears the people on this site, are fickle. I remember in 2006 everyone’s favourite player was Baghdatis. Then when he came up against Monfils last year everyone turned on him and dead set, I was about the only one in RLA supporting him. Next year, another flashy guy plays Tsonga, I wonder if people will still be adoring Tsonga like they are now…

 

[Escude]

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=292909&highlight=Gael+Monfils

My point is that this time last year everyone was onboard the Monfils bandwagon, and that’s all but empty now. The Melbourne crowd, and it appears the people on this site, are fickle. I remember in 2006 everyone’s favourite player was Baghdatis. Then when he came up against Monfils last year everyone turned on him and dead set, I was about the only one in RLA supporting him. Next year, another flashy guy plays Tsonga, I wonder if people will still be adoring Tsonga like they are now…

lol thats actually very well said. in 1998 rios was supposed to be the next biggest thing in tennis.This is why i said consistency is the key.Gonzalez on his day can beat anyone in the world, so can Nalbandian on his day and that includes federer.

 

[Hot Spenny]

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=292909&highlight=Gael+Monfils

My point is that this time last year everyone was onboard the Monfils bandwagon, and that’s all but empty now. The Melbourne crowd, and it appears the people on this site, are fickle. I remember in 2006 everyone’s favourite player was Baghdatis. Then when he came up against Monfils last year everyone turned on him and dead set, I was about the only one in RLA supporting him. Next year, another flashy guy plays Tsonga, I wonder if people will still be adoring Tsonga like they are now…

pfft, just appreciating an awesome display of tennis, what's your beef?
Monfils didn't even play at the Open this year, sure the crowd would have appreciated him once again.
Who follows one individual player? People enjoy seeing these guys with a bit of flash showing what they've got.

 

[ashley12]

Hands up if you have had money on Tsonga the last two matches

Apart from those two bets, the only one I have won this year has been Hewitt over Baghdatis

 

[Escude]

Hands up if you have had money on Tsonga the last two matches

Apart from those two bets, the only one I have won this year has been Hewitt over Baghdatis

federer over nole, make a guaranteed 40% return on it.I have already put $1,500 in it... looking to celebrate tomorrow night

 

[Drummond]

pfft, just appreciating an awesome display of tennis, what's your beef?
Monfils didn't even play at the Open this year, sure the crowd would have appreciated him once again.
Who follows one individual player? People enjoy seeing these guys with a bit of flash showing what they've got.

Just like they appreciated Baghdatis in 2007! Oh, wait…

 

[gaelictiogar]

Thoughts on Nadal? No doubt beaten by a player that could do no wrong tonight but jus in general I just feel he can be beaten.

He has actually excelled by his hard court standards in this event. Nadal doesn't win hard court titles at this level. He doesn't final or semi final either with any consistency. He is not a great player away from clay but is rather a fine and good talent which has a tendency to crash and burn under pressure in decider sets. How many final sets has he tamely lost since last clay season?. I think these points are now established fact.

Fed V Djoko was always the likely decider. It still is. They are the top 2 players in the world on Hards.

 

[sherrinorburley]

Thoughts?

Happy!

 

[gaelictiogar]

I remember this time last year we were raving about Gonzo being a gun. Every dog has his day. Well played Tsonga but let's see him against one of the top 2 hard players in the final.

 

[Escude]

He has actually excelled by his hard court standards in this event. Nadal doesn't win hard court titles at this level. He doesn't final or semi final either with any consistency. He is not a great player away from clay but is rather a fine and good talent which has a tendency to crash and burn under pressure in decider sets. How many final sets has he tamely lost since last clay season?. I think these points are now established fact.

Fed V Djoko was always the likely decider. It still is. They are the top 2 players in the world on Hards.

who are you kidding? are you for real?????? tsonga was on fire today, would have beaten just about anyone in the world today.Nadals has a terrific record in the finals, won 85% of his finals matches. I am no rafa fan but that statement is downright pathetic.

His loss to Gonzo last year was similar as well and he lost to Ferrer in US open who was terrific as well.

 

[Hot Spenny]

Just like they appreciated Baghdatis in 2007! Oh, wait…

I'm sure they did. I did. Great player. you're being silly.

 

[legitimatic]

The winner of Federer vs Djokovic wins the tournament? Stop being so silly in order to push your anti-Tsonga agenda buddy.

 

[Drummond]

I'm sure they did. I did. Great player. you're being silly.

Being silly? So you were there were you? As I said, probably 5% of the crowd was going for Baghdatis, and that's being generous. They were ALL going for Monfils, because of his chest pumping and hands up in the air celebrations. The previous years favourite, given the showcase night match, was given barely any support because the crowd suddenly had a new favourite. Fickle.

He has actually excelled by his hard court standards in this event. Nadal doesn't win hard court titles at this level. He doesn't final or semi final either with any consistency. He is not a great player away from clay but is rather a fine and good talent which has a tendency to crash and burn under pressure in decider sets. How many final sets has he tamely lost since last clay season?. I think these points are now established fact.

Well done, that is probably the worst comment I have ever heard. Nadal is absolutely incredible on the big points, he's the best pressure player I've ever seen, including Federer. Up until tonight he had saved all 9 set points he had faced. Can't get over that comment, pure madness.

 

[ashley12]

Guys, the only one who can take credit for Tsonga is Russian, who predicted him to do surprsingly well in the predictions thread

 

[sherrinorburley]

Let the pro's have a word

Tsonga rolls Nadal to reach Open final

Major upset... Tsonga hit 49 winners to Nadal's 13 to advance to the decider
Photo: Getty Images


Thursday, January 24, 2008 - 10:28 PM
Source: ABC News

Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga blasted world number Rafael Nadal off the court in a whirlwind straight sets victory at Melbourne Park on Thursday evening to reach his first Australian Open final.
In an astonishing performance of clean winners and aces, the 38th-ranked Tsonga claimed his fourth seeded scalp of the tournament, winning 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 57 minutes to reach the decider in only his fifth grand slam.
Tsonga now has the prospect of facing either three-time Australian Open champion Roger Federer or Serbian third seed Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final.
Federer and Djokovic have a rematch of their 2007 US Open final in the other semi-final on Friday.
"It's unbelievable, just amazing, I don't know what to say," Tsonga said.
"Today I played unbelievable, nothing could stop me today and I'm just so happy. It's like a dream, I cannot believe it is true.
"It was my tactic, just to hit every ball and everything was in, so... what can I say."
In a night Tsonga will not forget he hit 49 winners, 17 aces and broke Nadal's serve five times to dominate the match points 89 to 58. Nadal did not break the Frenchman's serve.
It was the 22-year-old Frenchman's first win over a top-five player and follows his victories over seeded players, Andy Murray (9), Richard Gasquet (8) and Mikhail Youzhny (14).
He now has the opportunity to become the first winner in Australia since Jean Borotra in 1928 and becomes the first French finalist since Arnaud Clement seven years ago.
Tsonga is the eighth unseeded player to reach the Australian Open final since the ATP rankings begin in 1973, and is projected to climb from his current 38 to 27 when the new rankings come out next week.
Imposing display

He exploded out of the blocks and broke Nadal in his opening service with a sweet backhand cross-court volley.
The Frenchman then broke the non-plussed second seed a second time with a booming forehand winner to take the opening set in 32 minutes. It was the first set Nadal had dropped at the tournament.
Nadal was under pressure again in the second set and fought off two break points on his opening service, but again was broken in the eighth game with Tsonga played a pirouetting volley at the net and then smashed home for the break.
Tsonga fired down three aces, all in the 200kmh range, to bring up three set points and then rammed home a forehand to make it 2-0.
Nadal finally got three break points in the second game of the final set, but Tsonga fought them off with two tremendous aces and was helped by a backhand error.
Tsonga had Nadal on the ropes in his next service game, coming up with two break points and the Spaniard skewed his forehand well wide for the break.
There was little Nadal could come up with to stop the torrent of winners and was broken for a fifth time, setting up Tsonga to serve out the match.
Tsonga clinched it on his first match point with an ace.
- AFP