Djokovic Defeats Tsonga for Third Consecutive China Open Crown
Top-seeded Novak Djokovic defeated Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6(4), 6-2 in one hour and 42 minutes to capture the 2012 China Open title, the 32nd trophy of his career (32-19 in finals). Djokovic is now 14-0 lifetime at the ATP World Tour 500 hard-court tournament in Beijing. It was the fifth time he has three-peated at a tournament (also Australian Open, Dubai, Miami and Canada). Djokovic earned $530,570 in prize money and 500 South African Airways ATP Ranking points to increase his lead to 1,490 points over Roger Federer (8,920) in the South African Airways ATP Rankings Race To London.
“I think the first set was really even, and maybe a couple points decided the winner there," said Djokovic. "We both had our chances aside those breaks that we converted…I managed to hold my nerves in the end. When you’re getting to the second set with the set advantage, mentally it is much more encouraging for you and then you try to play on that confidence run that you have. I made that early break in the second [and] I felt much more comfortable on the court.”
Tsonga is now 1-9 against top 10 opponents to date in 2012. His last win over Djokovic came in January 2010 in the Australian Open quarterfinals.
“I think it was a good match,” said Tsonga. “I missed maybe something in the middle of the first set. I was a break up, and I was playing well. But then he played solid. It was really difficult to control him. I just tried to play my game, to be aggressive, but against a player like this, for the moment, my level is not high enough, and it’s not enough to beat him."
