World number three Novak Djokovic is one set away from winning his first grand slam title, after taking a two sets to one lead over a tiring Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Australian Open final.
Tsonga took the first set 6-4, stunning the Serbian with two spectacular winners to break Djokovic’s serve at 4-5. The unseeded Frenchman erupted, as did the Rod Laver Arena crowd, who sensed a repeat of Thursday’s sensational upset of 2nd seed Rafael Nadal.Djokovic was in danger of slipping further behind, struggling to hold serve at 1-2 in the second set. However the more experienced of the two held serve, forcing a break in the seventh game. The break appeared to be a blow for Tsonga, whose body language changed noticeably. Djokovic held serve to love in the tenth game to tie the match at a set apiece.
Djokovic began to assert his authority in the third, looking more comfortable on serve and peeling winners with regularity. An early break had Tsonga’s shoulders slumping further. Facing intense pressure when serving at 3-5, Tsonga shanked a volley into the net on set point to fall behind.
Tsonga can now only win in five sets. The Frenchman has never played a five-set match in his short career.
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