Tsonga survives three-set thriller in Brisbane; Nishikori stuns No. 5 Berdych

Second-seeded French star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (pictured) came from behind on Wednesday at the Brisbane International in Australia to defeat Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen, 0-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(5). With the victory, Tsonga sets up a clash with compatriot Richard Gasquet for a spot in the semifinals.

A finalist at last year’s Australian Open, Tsonga started off extremely slow, winning only six points on serve and not capitalizing on four break point chances, ultimately losing the first set 6-0. The Frenchman recuperated in the final two sets, which was enough to send him through to his second straight quarterfinal appearance at this event. Tsonga smashed nine aces past Nieminen, while winning 73 percent of first serve points. Both players won 98 points throughout the match, but it was the final two points that Tsonga won in the third set tiebreak that was the difference. With the victory, Tsonga ties the series record against Nieminen to 1-1.

Third-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, recently known as WTA Tour star Ana Ivanovic’s boyfriend, steam-rolled former World No. 7 Mario Ancic, 6-2, 6-3, in one hour and 18 minutes. A Davis Cup hero in the championship match against Argentina in 2008, Verdasco won 33 of 39 first serve points, fired six aces and broke serve on three of five opportunities. Ancic was unable to break serve despite five chances.

The upset of the day happened on the final match of the day as Japanese sensation Kei Nishikori defeated fifth-seed and current World No. 20 Tomas Berdych, 7-6(7), 6-3, in one hour and 39 minutes. Berdych hammered six aces compared to Nishikori’s five, but the youngster from Japan was able to break serve twice compared to only once by the Czech veteran. Nishikori will next face Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in the quarterfinals. Mathieu defeated Latvian Ernests Gulbis, 6-3, 6-4, just one day after Gulbis shocked World No. 3 Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the opening round.

Other Second Round Results on Wednesday
No. 8 Radek Stepanek def. Michael Llodra, 7-6(2), 6-3
Florent Serra def. Jurgen Melzer, 6-4, 6-3