Nadal reaches Monte Carlo final with win over Tsonga
The sixth-seeded Tsonga saved four match points as he rallied back from 5-1 down to force a second-set tiebreaker, which was evenly poised at 3-3 before Tsonga started making unforced errors again by forcing his shots.
- Associated Press
- Updated: April 20, 2013 06:43 PM IST
Eight-time defending champion Rafael Nadal recorded his 46th consecutive win at the Monte Carlo Masters by beating Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 7-6 (3) Saturday to reach the final.
The Spaniard has now reached five straight finals since returning from a seven-month layoff following a left knee injury. He will face the winner of Saturday's later semifinal between top-ranked Novak Djokovic and the unseeded Fabio Fognini of Italy.
The sixth-seeded Tsonga saved four match points as he rallied back from 5-1 down to force a second-set tiebreaker, which was evenly poised at 3-3 before Tsonga started making unforced errors again by forcing his shots.
Nadal clinched the victory with a forehand winner and took a step closer to a ninth straight Monte Carlo title and 23rd Masters title overall.