• ATP World Tour Finals

Federer sees off Tsonga resistance in London

Roger Federer kept his calm against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga © Getty Images

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Defending champion Roger Federer came through a tough battle in the ATP World Tour Finals curtain-raiser on Sunday, beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in three sets at London's O2 Arena.

Drawn in the same group as Rafael Nadal and Mardy Fish for the round-robin stage of the tournament, Federer knew a quick start was important to his hopes of a sixth triumph at the event. And, aided by some wayward hitting from Tsonga, the Swiss emerged from a mid-match slump for a 6-2 2-6 6-4 victory.

The tie was a re-run of the recent BNP Paribas Masters final, won by Federer in convincing fashion just eight days ago. In Paris he raced through the first set with consummate ease, and it was the same story in England's capital as he took 21 minutes to seal a one-set advantage.

The forehand was finding its mark for the Swiss, which was an ominous sign for Tsonga, who had not won in seven previous attempts when faced with a world No. 4 opponent. Federer did not face a single break point in the first set, and in truth he did not have to find too many winners to achieve the two breaks recorded against the Tsonga serve.

Federer's first break came when the Frenchman sent back-to-back forehands drifting wide. He was then handed three set points when a Tsonga double-fault set up a 0-40 advantage, converted by Federer at the first attempt when he fired his return at Tsonga's feet.

The former world No. 1 has not lost a match since taking a six-week break from the circuit, winning two titles in that time, so the momentum was undoubtedly with him. However, Tsonga had already beaten his rival twice this year - including a miraculous comeback at Wimbledon, and he began to turn the tide early in the second set.

This time it was Federer in generous mood as he produced a carbon copy of Tsonga's early form, sending two inside-out forehands wide. The power-hitting of Tsonga increased in tandem with the volume of the London crowd, and a smearing forehand secured a second break as the Frenchman levelled at one set all.

Federer dug in at the start of the decider, gaining three solid service holds, before he forced Tsonga to save break point at 2-3 with a deceptive forehand. The match progressed to 5-4 in the third, with Tsonga serving to stay in the match, and a slack volley, followed by a double-fault helped Federer set up three match points - the second of which he took with a backhand winner.

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