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Tsonga downs Djokovic in Paris Masters

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-31 10:51

PARIS - France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga thrilled the home crowd when he beat world number three Novak Djokovic of Serbia 6-4 1-6 6-3 in the third round of the Paris Masters on Thursday.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France reacts after he defeated Novak Djokovic of Serbia in their match at the Paris Tennis Masters tournament, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008. Tsonga won 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. [Agencies]

The 13th seed, who will qualify for the season-ending Masters Cup if he wins the Paris indoor tournament, will meet American Andy Roddick for a place in the last four.

Tsonga, who lost to Djokovic in the Australian Open final before gaining revenge in the Thailand Open final last month, got off to a bright start, breaking decisively in the fifth game to take the opening set before dozing in the second.

The Frenchman, who was sidelined with a knee injury for three months before the U.S. Open, woke up in the third set, stealing Djokovic's serve in the second game with a superb cross-court passing shot.

He then held serve and sealed the win on his second match point with an ace, triggering a loud roar from the Bercy sports hall crowd.

"Bercy is my home and you need my permission to get in and today, I would not give that permission," Tsonga told the crowd.

"For now, I don't think about (the Masters Cup). I take it match by match. If I beat Andy, maybe I can snatch a place. So we will see."

Djokovic, who has now lost twice to Tsonga in the past four weeks, put on a brave face after his defeat.

"I know that I'm not playing on my level the way I played maybe throughout the first part of the season but this is sport. You have ups and downs," said the Serb.

"He made some unbelievable shots in that second game (of the third set), I think, which was crucial and decisive."