Paris: World No. 4 Roger Federer has claimed his first BNP Paribas Masters 1000 title with a 6-1, 7-3 (3), victory over sixth-seeded Frenchman Joe Wilfried Tsonga.
The Swiss superstar will take a 12-match unbeaten streak to defend the Barclays World Tour title he won last year in London.
This is also the first time in Masters 1000 history that all nine champions during the season were ranked in the top four in the world.
Federer came under some pressure early in his match Sunday, but fought off two break points in the opening game and proceeded to break Tsonga in the next.
“These two games may have decided the outcome of the match,” the Swiss said.
“It gave me great confidence and a great direction for the match.”
The No. 3 seed raced through the first set in 30 minutes, building a 5-0 lead before Tsonga managed to get on the scoreboard. After saving two break points in the second set, Federer quickly gained control in the tie-break; he rolled out to a 6-1 lead and clinched the title on his third championship point.
“I’m just really ecstatic to have played so well this week from start to finish,” said Federer. “Basically from first ball struck against (Adrian) Mannarino all the way until the very end here. I couldn’t be more happy. I have had many attempts trying to win Paris Bercy, and for some reason, I wasn’t able to win it earlier. But this one obviously feels great and it’s a special victory.”
The No. 3 seed raced through the first set in 30 minutes, building a 5-0 lead before Tsonga managed to get on the scoreboard. After saving two break points in the second set, Federer quickly gained control in the tie-break; he rolled out to a 6-1 lead and clinched the title on his third championship point.
Federer, the first player to contest the final of all nine Masters 1000 tournaments, has now won 18 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crowns (18-12 in finals), tying him with Andre Agassi for second on the list of title leaders behind Rafael Nadal with 19.
“Jo was always with the back against the wall, so I was really able to put him under pressure and play aggressive with myself,” said Federer.
“Thedre were a couple of hiccups midway through the second set. I didn’t serve so well, but I saved the best for last. I played a good tie-breaker and won, which is very nice.”
The 30-year-old Swiss is unbeaten since the US Open semi-finals loss to Novak Djokovic and will go to the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals with a 59-12 season record (41-7 on hard).
He made a strong start to his 2011 campaign, winning the Doha title in the opening week of the year, and snapped a 10-month title drought last week at his hometown tournament, the Swiss Indoors Basel.
“I have played well for a few months now,” he said. “Maybe I didn’t win the US Open, but we all know I was one point away from making the finals and then who know? But Novak was able to come back in that great match against me at the Open.
“And before that I think I had some really good moments, where I actually did play very well, like at Wimbledon and the French Open,” Federer was quoted as saying on the ATP site.
“I have had some really tough losses this year, but I kept believing that still the year wasn’t over, I can still finish this year on a high.”
Federer, a winner of 69 tour-level titles, will look to reach his 100th tour-level final when he makes his 10th straight appearance at the circuit finale, to be held from Nov 20-27 at The O2 in London.
He also became only the second player after Andre Agassi to win both the Paris titles — the Masters and the French Open at Roland Garros.
Tsonga will also feature at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals after clinching his berth in the eight-man field earlier this week.
He had advanced to his second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final after saving three match points in his semi-final match against John Isner Saturday, and was attempting to win his third indoor hard court title in as many months following triumphs in Metz and Vienna.
“If I had played better at the start it would have changed things. The key of the match was there,” lamented Tsonga, who will return to his career-high World No. 6 ranking Monday.
“Every time we play each other it’s similar. If I am able to fight back at the start, then I play well. But if I lose the first set like I did today, then it becomes more difficult for me.”
Celebrities in attendance included basketball star Tony Parker, who was at the presentation ceremony.
IANS
