PETE ZIEBRON
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga captured his lone title in 2014 in Toronto. Pete Ziebron Images
The 2014 ATP campaign was bookended by unlikely Grand Slam winners Stan Wawrinka in Australia and Marin Cilic at the US Open. However perhaps the most impressive display of tennis occured in August when Jo-Wilfreid Tsonga won the Masters 1000 event in Toronto.
The Rogers Cup was the first event that Tsonga played in the US Open Series following his 4th round defeat at Wimbledon to eventual Champion Novak Djokovic. Despite going to a 1st set tiebreaker in each of his first 2 matches in Toronto, Tsonga prevailed in straight sets over 2 countrymen, Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Jeremy Chardy.
Next, Tsonga faced Novak Djokovic, who had defeated him in both of their previous matches in 2014. This time however, Tsonga played brilliant tennis and converted all 4 break point opportunities to beat Djokovic convincingly 6-2 6-2.
In his quarterfinal match against Andy Murray, Tsonga smashed 18 aces en route to a 7-6(5) 4-6 6-4 victory. Tsonga clawed back from a 0-3 deficit in the final set, and won 6 of the final 7 games of the match after Murray had won 5 consecutive games.
Next up was Wimbledon semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov. Tsonga responded to the challenge by winning 88% of his 1st serve points and fended off all 4 chances that Dimitrov had to break him in the match.
Coming into Sunday's Final against Wimbeldon Finalist Roger Federer, Tsonga was 4-11 lifetime and 0-2 against Federer in 2014. However, Tsonga had all of the answers this time against Federer as he won his 2nd career Masters 1000 title and only title of 2014 in winning 7-5 7-6(3) in 1 hour and 48 minutes.
Following his win, Tsonga elaborated on his accomplishment in Toronto: "I played well all this week. I beat many good guys. You know, it's a big achievement because I worked really hard to come back from my knee injury last year."
Toronto Masters 1000 results
1st d. #49 Roger-Vasselin 7-6(3) 6-1
2nd d. #36 Chardy 7-6(6) 6-4
R16 d. #1 Djokovic 6-2 6-2
QF d. #9 Murray 7-6(5) 4-6 6-4
SF d. #8 Dimitrov 6-4 6-3
F d. #3 Federer 7-5 7-6(3)
Unfortunately for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, he would go 5-8 the rest of the year, including a loss to Stan Wawrinka in the Davis Cup Final. Due to a right arm injury sustained against Wawrinka, Tsonga was not able to face Roger Federer in the 4th rubber of the Davis Cup Final with France trailing the Swiss 1-2.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reached the 4th round in all 4 majors in 2014. Unfortunately he lost each time; twice to Djokovic, once to Federer and once to Andy Murray. Ironically, Tsonga beat all 3 in a 4 day span in Toronto in August, a fact that makes his Masters 1000 title that much more special.
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