Tsonga defeats Berdych to take Marseille Open

MARSEILLE (AFP) –

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga hits a return on February 24, 2013 in Marseille

French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga hits a return to Czech Tomas Berdych during the final of the ATP Open 13 tennis tournament, on February 24, 2013 in Marseille, southern France. Tsonga won 3-6, 7-6, 6-4.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga came back from a set down and saved a match point to defeat Czech top seed Tomas Berdych in front of a partisan crown and win the Marseille Open 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 on Sunday.

The French number one picks up his 10th ATP victory and second in Marseille, as he defeated the world number six and a player he had beaten only once in five meetings.

Tsonga paid tribute to the rousing support he received on the Mediterranean coast.

“This victory, I owe it to you,” he told the fans.

Berdych took advantage of a series of unforced errors from Tsonga to break in the sixth game of the opening set before closing out the set confidently 6-4 with a forehand volley.

Tsonga dug in and saved a crucial break point with the score at 4-4 before a dramatic tie-break that saw the Frenchman fend off match point with an ace before levelling the match and forcing the decider.

It turned out to be the turning point of the final as Tsonga gained in confidence and produced a series of winners that eventually wore down Berdych and carried him to a victory 6-4 by taking his first chance at match point.