French second seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga took just 69 minutes to crush Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-3 6-3 in the final of the Japan Open.
Frenchman takes his finals record to 5-1
French second seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga took just 69 minutes to crush Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-3 6-3 in the final of the Japan Open in Tokyo.
The former Australian Open finalist fired down 11 aces and was successful with 75 per cent of his first serves on his way to his third ATP Tour title of the season.
"I will celebrate in the plane to Shanghai with a beer and maybe a little dance," Tsonga said. "I played perfectly today, like I did yesterday. When I play like that it's tough for my opponents.
Tsonga broke in the eighth game of the first set, forcing the unseeded Youzhny to put a forehand wide and the Frenchman took the set with a 201kph ace into the corner.
Another rocket-like forehand pressured Youzhny into netting a backhand to give Tsonga the crucial break for a 4-3 lead in the second set and he closed out the match from there.
His first title since winning in Marseille in February moved Tsonga closer to securing a place in the season-ending World Tour Finals in London next month.
"I don't know how to explain why I play so well on the important points," said Tsonga. "It's just a feeling. On the big points I didn't miss all week. I know I play well indoors, so if I can continue playing like this it would be great for me to go to the ATP Finals."
Tsonga, who won $300,000, now has a 5-1 record in ATP Tour finals.
Meanwhile, this was a a 10th defeat in a final for Youzhny - he has won just four in his career. "I can't say I played badly but he was too good," said the Russian world number 49.
"He served great. He hit four serves and we changed ends. I had no chances to break."
