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2019 Brisbane International Pat Rafter Arena, Brisbane, Queensland Alex De Minaur (AUS) vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) |
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A spot in the Brisbane International semi-finals is up for grabs tonight on Pat Rafter Arena as Alex De Minaur takes on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from about 9:30pm (AEDT).
By the end of the 2018 season, Alex De Minaur had established himself as the highest ranked male Australian at no 31 in the world. His great year was capped by a finals spot at the ATP NextGen tournament in Milan, going down eventually to Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Although slightly built compared to the majority of players on the ATP tour, De Minaur’s court craft and speed should ensure that he remains among the top players on the tour for years to come.
He also has the quality that some other Australian players are lacking at the moment, tenacity. Having Lleyton Hewitt as mentor and doubles partner doesn’t hurt, and Hewitt’s influence is seen in the way that De Minaur plays.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga missed the majority of the 2018 season given a left knee injury. His ranking has plummeted to 239 and he is very much on the comeback trail.
His form this week has been good, defeating Thanasi Kokkinakis and Taro Daniel in straight sets.
At his best, Tsonga is clearly a top-ten player, possessing an all-court game and playing a style of tennis that is loved by fans.
At the age of 33, questions will be asked about whether he can return to his best, and Tsonga will be keen to answer that tonight with a victory over De Minaur.
Prediction
This is a toss of the coin job as Tsonga has been impressive in the first two rounds.
However, odds are it will go to three sets and De Minaur’s superior court movement and fitness will eventually prevail.
De Minaur to win in three sets.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's comeback from injury is complete. Alex De Minaur didnt play poorly tonight but Tsonga was just brilliant. I will be very surprised if he doesn't go on to win this tournament. Back to his very best in what was probably the highest quality match of the tournament so far. Hope you enjoyed the live coverage. Good night.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great hustle from De Minaur again but Tsonga is too good with the smash. He leads 5-2. Forehand attack from Tsonga and he leads 6-2. 4 Match Points for Tsonga. Wow, he's done it, as expected, with a terrific forehand winner. GAME SET MATCH TSONGA 6-4 7-6 De Minaur 4 6 Tsonga 6 7
David Holden
Roar Guru
Body serve before Tsonga nets a backhand. De Minaur 1-0. Huge off forehand from Tsonga. 1-1. Great point at the net from De Minaur. He lead 2-1 with a mini break. Unforced error from De Minaur. 2-2. Forehand winner from Tsonga after long rally. He holds mini break at 3-2. Backhand down the line winner from Tsonga and he leads 4-2 on the change of ends De Minaur 4 6 Tsonga 6 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
What a point. That's a cracking overhead on the backpedal.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Come on Alex. Let's get this to a third.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Ace to start for 15-0. Forehand groundstrokes set up a smash winner.30-0. Tsonga sprays a forehand wide. 30-15. Ace down the T for 40-15. Forehand winner and we are off to a tiebreak De Minaur 4 6 Tsonga 6 6
David Holden
Roar Guru
Big off forehand winner from De Minaur. 15-0. Tsonga nets a backhand. 30-0. Great rally before De Minaur approaches the net and hits the volley winner. 40-0. De Minaur has held comfortably and Tsonga needs to hold to force a tie break. De Minaur 4 6 Tsonga 6 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Forehand winner from De Minaur gives him a great start. 0-15. Double fault and 0-30. Tsonga in trouble. Ace for 15-30. Great reply. Ace again for 30-30. Unforced error from De Minaur. 40-30. Great backhand pass from De Minaur gets the crowd on their feet, Deuce. Sliding serve from Tsonga sets up the point which is won by a volley. Long point before Tsonga wins with a smash. He holds De Minaur 4 5 Tsonga 6 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Sensational running crosscourt forehand winner from Tsonga. Wow, 0-15. Good rally before Tsonga drops backhand into the net. 15-15. Good body serve draws the error. 30-15. Wonderful play from Minaur with an off forehand pass. 40-15. De Minaur presses long with a forehand. 40-30. Good serve again and De Minaur holds. De Minaur 4 5 Tsonga 6 4
David Holden
Roar Guru
Ace for 15-0. Ditto for 30-0. Big serving. Forehand forces error from De Minaur. 40-0. Another ace and a cheap service game for Tsonga De Minaur 4 4 Tsonga 6 4
David Holden
Roar Guru
Both players fighting off break points in their last service games. We have a high quality match here De Minaur 4 4 Tsonga 6 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Important game for De Minaur here. Double fault to start and 0-15. Another double for 0-30. Trouble brewing with new balls. Tsonga nets the backhand and 15-30. Opportunity missed for Tsonga. De Minaur sends a forehand long and its 15-40. Two break points. Forehand into the net from Tsonga. 30-40. Good serve draws the error and its back to deuce. Tsonga sends a backhand wide and De Minaur holds game point. Unforced backhand error from De Minaur and its deuce. Tsonga slices a backhand long and De Minaur holds ad. Good serve and De Minaur holds on. De Minaur 4 4 Tsonga 6 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Good hustle from De Minaur and Tsonga sends a forehand wide. 0-15. Smart backhand pass from De Minaur forces a volley error.0-30. Good movement again and Tsonga errs on the forehand. 0-40. What a brilliant point. De Minaur retrieved everything but Tsonga prevailed. 15-40. Huge serve and volley winner for 30-40. One more chance for De Minaur. Brilliant serving to save all 3 break points. Deuce. Unplayable serve at 215km/hr. Tsonga has the ad. Ace again. That's a very impressive hold. De Minaur 4 3 Tsonga 6 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Forehand into the net from Tsonga after a groundstroke rally. 15-0. Second serve pounced on by Tsonga. 15-15. Strong overhead from De Minaur wins that point. 30-15. Amazing winner from Tsonga. 30-30. Good body serve sets up that point. 40-30. De Minaur controls that rally and holds serve. De Minaur 4 3 Tsonga 6 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Well constructed point from De Minaur before Tsonga slices long. 0-15. Big 206km/hr serve for 15-15. Sliding ace to the forehand court. 30-15. Backhand error from De Minaur. 40-15. Ace down the T for the hold. De Minaur 4 2 Tsonga 6 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Unforced forehand error from Tsonga. 15-0. Body serve draws the error. 30-0. Big forehand down the line sets up point for Tsonga. 30-15. Backhand error from Tsonga. 40-15. Great point again before Tsonga rips a one handed backhand across court for a winner. 40-30. Tsonga sends a forehand long and De Minaur hangs on to hold. He is fighting hard. De Minaur 4 2 Tsonga 6 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Forehand winner from Tsonga. Effortless. 15-0. Tsonga nets a forehand down the line. 15-15. Second serve wide to the forehand sets up a forehand winner for Tsonga. 30-15. Forehand down the line catches the baseline. 40-15. Ace from Tsonga secures the hold De Minaur 4 1 Tsonga 6 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Tsonga catches the tape with a backhand pass. 15-0. Thats too good from Tsonga. He worked De Minaur over in that point. 15-15. Forehand return goes just long. 30-15. Loose backhand from Tsonga and 40-15. Forehand return lands on the line and score tightens to 40-30. Forehand winner again from Tsonga and deuce. Backhand just long from Tsonga. Ad to De Minaur. De Minaur controls that point with a forehand and holds. De Minaur 4 1 Tsonga 6 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
I really don't think De Minaur did much wrong in that set. Tsonga was just at the top of his game in a high quality set. De Minaur 4 Tsonga 6
David Holden
Roar Guru
Tsonga hurting De Minaur with his forehand. 15-0. Forehand dominates that point again. 30-0. Forehand crosscourt winner from Tsonga and 3 set points. Unplayable serve from Tsonga and he has played some brilliant tennis to claim the first set. De Minaur 4 Tsonga 6