Source: Atpworldtour
Read & Watch: Tsonga Happy To Pass Lyon Test
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga extended his perfect record at the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon on Wednesday with a comeback win over Canadian qualifier Steven Diez.
The 2017 champion, who improved to 6-0 at the ATP 250 tournament, came within two points of losing, but ultimately booked his place n the quarter-finals with a 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 win over two hours and 42 minutes. The penultimate game lasted 14 minutes, with Tsonga failing to convert five match points. He finally closed out with a forehand drop shot winner.
“It was good for me to play a long match like this,” said Tsonga. “I haven’t played a match this long for a while. I am not playing my best level, but I am giving everything mentally and that gives me confidence.”
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Diez, who is No. 262 in the ATP Rankings, notched the biggest win of his career in the Lyon first round by beating No. 82-ranked Bernard Tomic. Former World No. 5 Tsonga, winner at the Open Sud de France (d. Herbert) in February, is currently World No. 85 – 14 months on from left knee surgery.
Tsonga will now prepare to face top-seeded Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, a semi-finalist in Lyon last year, who defeated French lucky loser Tristan Lamasine 7-5, 7-5 one hour and 36 minutes. Basilashvili led 4-1 in the second set before coming through a tense finalereadfullarticle