By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday June 20, 2019
Roger Federer snapped a two-match losing streak and won for the first time on grass against France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 7-6(5) 4-6 7-5 on Thursday at Halle.
Federer had a set and break lead on Tsonga but let it slip as the 34-year-old wild card surged and won five of the final six games of the middle set, converting his first set point when a Federer volley sailed long.
The third set looked to be going Tsonga’s way as well, as the World No.77 had a break point to go ahead 4-2 but was unable to convert his chance.
Federer earned three break points at 5-5 and a deep backhand return forced a Tsonga forehand error on the second to give the Swiss a 6-5 lead.
Tsonga would move ahead 15-30 as Federer served for the victory at 6-5 but it was the Swiss who took the final three points to clinch his 12th career victory against six losses to Tsonga.
Federer hit 35 winners against 19 unforced errors to go with seven aces on the evening. He saved five of seven break points.
Federer will move on to face Roberto Bautista Agut in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Bautista Agut defeated Richard Gasquet 6-1 6-4 on Thurdsday.
Federer improves to 17-0 lifetime in second round appearances at Halle. The nine-time champion now owns a 65-7 record at the event, and has won 13 successive quarter-finals.
Zverev Advances
Germany’s Alexander Zverev kept pace on the bottom half of the draw with a 6-3 7-5 win over American Steve Johnson, while Matteo Berrettini continued his winning ways by winning an all-Italian clash with Andreas Seppi, 4-6 6-3 6-2.
The quarter-finals at Halle shape up as follows: