Tsonga wins all-French clash

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:51

Second seed Tsonga dropped the first set but turned the match around in the second set and went on to triumph 4-6 6-2 6-2.

Tsonga, chasing his third title of the season, will next face qualifier Ernests Gulbis, who was leading Juan Monaco 6-3 4-1 when the Argentinian retired.

Defending champion Tomas Berdych had few problems brushing aside Andreas Beck 6-4 6-1.

“I have never defended a title before so I am hoping this can be the first time,” said the Czech fifth seed told the ATP website. “I really like playing in Tokyo.”

Berdych will meet Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny in the quarter-finals.

Youzhny upset third-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon 7-6 (7/5) 6-7 (5/7) 6-4 in a match lasting more than two and a half hours.

Australian eighth seed Lleyton Hewitt survived a battle with veteran Fabrice Santoro, eventually prevailing 3-6 6-3 6-1, to set up a last-eight meeting with another Frenchman, qualifier Edouard Roger Vasselin.

The world number 189 followed up his victory over US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro in the first round by fighting back to beat Austria’s Jurgen Melzer 4-6 6-2 6-3.

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