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Tsonga: I was weak from baseline, but I served well

Although the Frenchman broke service of the young Austrian just once in three sets, he won tiebreak in the final set on experience. Haase reached semifinals thanks to Fognini who once again decided he was not in the mood to play, in the middle of the match

It is said the best of the pack differ by winning when they have a bad day. Tsonga came to Vienna for the title. He needs the points because he is in chase for London, otherwise he would take some rest, perhaps. In the last years in Valencia either, at a 500 Series tournament, he was not overly motivated. He would focus on the domestic Paris. This time he does not have this benefit. Although he is not playing well, and he is in trouble in exchanges, he proved one more time he knows how to win even when he is not at his best.

Only one of sixteen service games of young Thiem ended by a break. The Austrian also had a game point, but still lost his service, and this was enough for Tsonga to win the first stage. Theim had his chances already in this set. He missed three connected break points, but he went on creating chances. In the second set the Frenchman saved four break points more, only to lose his service in the eighth game. Thiem missed taking advantage of three set points, but the used the fourth. The third set brought up fast service games and the match was decided in tiebreak whereby the French player made use of his experience and reputation. He left initiative to his young opponent all the time, and this tactics came to fruition in the very end.

- I was very weak from the baseline, but I served well - was the first Tsonga said after the match.

- I played a lot of matches like this and that is why I have more experience. This is what decided. I am not in good shape, but I have to keep winning.

Fognini in the first match made a pleasant surprise by his focused play, but soon he confirmed the bad reputation that is following him. The first set offered good service games, or bad on return, depending on the perspective. The set ended up in tiebreak, and the Italian player won it. For some reason, known only to Fognini, he continued the match by losing the will to play, completely. ATP provides punishment for such behavior, but this will be hard to change with Fognini. The whistles from the crowd did not help either. The last two sets amounted to 46 minutes altogether.

- I had my chances in the first-set tiebreak, but he played an excellent passing shot in the key moment. When I managed to save three connected break points by 3-1 in the third set, I knew I would not lose the match. Fognini was making lots of errors, while I kept the level throughout the match - concluded the Dutchman, after a win Fognini is to be credited for, in first place.

Haase and Tsonga played once this season, and that was in the fast Madrid. Although that tournament is played on clay, higher altitude provides for fast conditions. The meeting was decided by two tiebreaks, and Tsonga won them both. That was the time when the Dutchman kept record by the greatest number of lost consecutive tiebreaks. As to the game, Haase saved six out of seven break points, but choked at the end of each set. Against the Frenchman in such shape, he can count on a new chance.

There are a lot of options in this match, most of them relying on Tsonga's poor form. The Frenchman is here on a mission, and he's winning on the strength of his reputation. He has diagnosed the problem best himself, saying that he served great and played badly. Among all those options, I've opted for a higher number of games in the first set. Haase has played three matches here, Tsonga two, and each time they covered this margin. They played two tie-breaks in Madrid in a match with only two breaks in total. The French player's philosophy in Vienna is simple. Hold on to your serve and wait for a chance. He did that against Thiem, he'll do it again today. For those with more courage, I recommend over 10.5 games.