Jo-Wilfried Tsonga became the first Frenchman to win the Toronto Masters as he denied Roger Federer an 80th career title with a 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) victory on Sunday.
The win was the second at the top Masters 1000 level for Tsonga, who won his first at Paris Bercy six years ago. Federer, seeded second, had been chasing his 80th career title and his 300th Masters victory.
“I played well all this week. I beat many good guys. It’s a big achievement because I worked really hard to come back from my knee injury last year. It’s just good to be here,” said Tsonga.
Tsonga, who suffered through an injury plagued 2013 season has re-dedicated himself to his game after regaining fitness.
“If you believe in something it can happen,” he said.
What is achieved is achieved, and I will just continue on this way, continue to work hard. This win gives me a lot of hope for the rest of the year, of course.
The winner ended with 26 winners and just 18 unforced errors. Federer saved a match point in the penultimate game as he held serve for 4-5, a game which lasted for eight and half minutes.
Federer was unable to make the switch form three night matches to the daytime final.
Tsonga now owns 11 career titles after winning his last 18 months ago in Marseille.
The French 13th seed won the opening set in 45 minutes, breaking in the final game on a Federer error.
The players stayed level in the second set, which went into a tiebreaker. Tsonga moved into command and set up three match points at 6-3 with a forehand winner; Federer netted a backhand to end it after just over one and three-quarter hours.
Tsonga back in top 10 While Novak Djokovic remained top of the men’s tennis rankings with 12,860 points , Tsonga’s Toronto Masters title has lifted him back into the top 10 of the ATP list.
Tsonga climbed from 15th to 10th thanks to his victory in the Toronto final on Sunday over Federer.
