Jo-Wilfried Tsonga made an emphatic return to the world’s top- 10 as he overpowered Roger Federer 7-5, 7-6 (3) to lift the Rogers Cup in Toronto for his second career ATP Masters 1000 title.
Tsonga, who entered the tournament with a 0-7 record against top-10 opponents in 2014, beat four top-10 players in a row en route to his sensational win – an unprecedented feat at a Masters event since 2002 – to become the first-ever Frenchman to win the Rogers Cup.
The 29-year-old, who dropped out of the top-10 five months ago, will be ranked No10 when the new rankings come out today. He was No15 entering the tournament in Toronto.
Tsonga became just the seventh active player to win multiple ATP Masters 1000 titles and he broke the Big Four’s stranglehold on the trophy in Canada, which was won by one of Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray for the past 10 years.
He denied Federer a record-extending 300th Masters 1000 match win and a season-leading 45th victory of 2014.
Tsonga faced zero break points throughout the one hour 47 minute match and dropped just two points on his first serve.
“I would like to thank Roger for all that he has done for tennis, for us – you’re just an amazing guy. I have a lot of respect for you. For me it can’t be a good win without you today,” said an elated Tsonga after the win.
“Two years ago I had a big problem here with my knee but now it’s the past and today I have the trophy and I’m just so happy.
“It’s going to stay in my heart forever.”
Tsonga was more comfortable on serve but both players continued to hold for the first 11 games of the match.
The first break point came in the twelfth game when Federer sent a down the line backhand wide and Tsonga pounced on the opportunity, attacking with his backhand to draw the error from the Swiss, roaring a loud “allez” as he grabbed the opening set.
Tsonga got a break point in the sixth game of the second but Federer came up with an ace to save it and held for 3-3. The 33-year-old saved four more break points in a marathon eighth game as he charged to the net and volleyed in command to hang on for 4-all.
But Tsonga was unfazed by his squandered opportunities and he got his first match point two games later. Federer saved it though, sending his opponent left and right with some sharp-angled groundstrokes. He finally held for 5-5, yelling out loud in relief and soon forced a tiebreak.
Tsonga got the first minibreak in the seventh point on a long backhand from Federer. An 11th ace from the Frenchman put him wit-hin two points from victory ,and he got three more match points with some serve-and-volley action. He only needed one though, as Federer netted a backhand.
