• ATP World Tour Finals

Tsonga stuns Nadal to seal semi-final spot

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was relentless against Rafael Nadal © PA Photos

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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga produced a stunning three-set victory to dump Rafael Nadal out of the ATP World Tour Finals in a thrilling encounter at London's O2 Arena.

With Roger Federer securing top spot in Group B with his win over Mardy Fish earlier on Thursday, the match was a straight shootout for a place in the semi-finals, and it was Tsonga who triumphed 7-6(2) 4-6 6-3.

Tsonga produced a volleying masterclass, producing 27 winners at the net as he thrilled the crowd with a super display of athleticism to outmanoeuvre Nadal.

Such was the aggression of Tsonga, Nadal failed to find a single break point in the opening set as Tsonga took the match to his opponent. A monster return from Tsonga, followed by a superb volley brought up two break points for the Frenchman at 2-2, but Nadal hung on to keep himself in the match.

With neither player able to find a breakthrough on the other's serve, the first set went to a tiebreak, and it was Tsonga who emerged triumphant. In a pivotal moment, Tsonga's backhand down the line looked to be heading out, but it clipped the frame of Nadal's racket to hand Tsonga the advantage.

A double fault allowed Nadal to level, but a superb volley put the Frenchman back in front, and after a netted backhand from Nadal handed him four set points, Tsonga calmly served out for the set.

Nadal picked up his level in the second set, and just as it looked like it would need another tiebreak to separate the pair, Nadal made his breakthrough. With Tsonga serving to stay in the match at 5-4, he was left to rue three unforced errors which handed two set points to Nadal.

The Frenchman saved both with two big smashes at the net, but a blistering forehand from Nadal carved up a third set point, only for Tsonga to see it off with another smash. But the Frenchman handed the set to Nadal on a plate when he sent consecutive forehands wide.

As the errors began to creep into Tsonga's game, Nadal opened the third set with real determination with a comfortable service hold. But just as the world No. 2 looked to be in the ascendancy, a double fault propelled Tsonga to 0-30, and a mammoth pair of groundstrokes brought up three break points, which the Frenchman grabbed at the second time of asking with another volley winner.

Tsonga tightened his grip on the match with a comfortable hold to love, and the match slipped further from Nadal's grasp when he inexplicably handed Tsonga a double break with a netted return.

Serving for the set, Tsonga produced three double faults to allow Nadal a glimmer of hope, but he was relieved of a second attempt to serve for the match, as he broke Nadal for the third time in the decider, clinching the victory with a fizzing forehand.

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