15th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was able to enact some measure of revenge as he defeated Denis Shapovalov 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6, 7-5. Tsonga recovered from a 2-5 deficit in the fifth set to win the last five games. Shapovalov had beaten the veteran Frenchman at the US Open in 2017.
Shapovalov took early control of the match as Tsonga failed to land his first serve with any consistency. The Canadian showcased his full repertoire of skills, taking the ball on aggressively on both the forehand and the backhand sides.
The break came in the 4th game, and Tsonga failed to make any serious inroads into the Shapovalov serve.
Tsonga’s first serve continued to evade him, but the former Australian Open finalist finally made impressions against serve. After being thwarted by some big serving in the second game, Tsonga broke in game six. He saved a break back point in serving for the set to level.
Far from being disheartened by losing the second, Shapovalov returned re-energised in the 3rd. He was helped by Tsonga throwing in a poor game immediately, and consolidated with a second break. A comfortable hold saw Shapovalov build the lead once more.
The 4th saw both men finally settle on serve as it featured no break points. Shapovalov showed some highlight reel passing shots as he chased down Tsonga volleys. However, when it came to the tie break, it was Tsonga who grabbed the lead. He never relinquished it, dragging the match to a 5th set.
As in the 3rd set, Tsonga gifted his opponent the early break. This time it proved terminal, with forehand errors, and a double fault contributing. After failing to get back on serve despite two break points, Tsonga nearly fell down a double break once again. He held, and it proved crucial, as a tight Shapovalov donated the next game with a pair of backhand errors. Tsonga held, and then set to work against Shapovalov, for whom the errors continued to flow.
Tsonga broke again, and served out the match to love as Shapovalov’s challenge quickly faded.
Tsonga could play Nick Kyrgios in the 3rd round, in what would be a very high-profile match-up.
Tsonga: “I’m tired but really happy. I did a big fight today. You know its not easy to play these young guns, they play great. Its difficult for me to defend. Thank you for the support.”
In other early matches, 10th seed Pablo Carreno Busta dominated a below par Gilles Simon before the Frenchman retired with what appeared to be a left groin injury. Carreno Busta won 6-2, 3-0 ret.
23rd seed Gilles Muller appeared to have his match with Malek Jaziri under control. However, the Luxembourgian was eventually forced to win in five, 7-5, 6-4, 6-7, 3-6, 6-2.
Nikoloz Basilashvili ensured a career best run at the Australian Open to date whatever happens the rest of this tournament. The Georgian is into round three for the first time with a 7-5, 6-1, 6-3 win over Ruben Bemelmans.
Basilashvili will face Britain’s Kyle Edmund, who backed up his impressive win over Kevin Anderson with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 win over Denis Istomin.
Italian veteran Andreas Seppi defeated young Japanese player Yoshihito Nishioka 6-1, 6-3, 6-4
