Tsonga, and the Art of the First-Serve Whiff

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Tsonga, and the Art of the First-Serve Whiff

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga hit a lot of devastating serves during his encounter with Andy Murray on Friday at Queen’s Club. He always does—Tsonga is a great server. He entered today’s match against Murray with 181 aces on the season, and he’s been winning 88 percent of his service games in 2015.

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But on this point in the tenth game of the first set against Murray, Tsonga took his serving to a level of chicanery never seen before at the ATP level. Or, not. Watch as Jo completely whiffs on the serve as the unharmed Slazenger bounces ineffectually beside him. The Frenchman doesn’t even crack a smile, he just lets out a sigh, puffs out his cheeks, goes back about his business and readies to make a second serve.

Tsonga would win the game, but not the match.

Murray improved his lifetime record against the Frenchman to 11-2 with a 7-5, 7-6(10), 6-2 victory to bring Great Britain level with France after Day on of their Davis Cup quarterfinal.

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