Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Wins In Doha

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga got his 2012 season off to a fine start as he saw of compatriot Gael Monfils in the final of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha.

The popular Frenchman had got a walkover in the semi-final as Roger Federer was forced to retire before the match began with a back injury - Monfils came through in straight sets against top seed Rafael Nadal.

It was Monfils who struck first as he broke Tsonga in the opening game of the match - but then the game was halted as fog made the court conditions dangerous.

An hour later they were back and Monfils held onto the break and was just a game from the set at 5-3 before Tsonga hit back.

Tsonga took four games on the bounce to take the opening set 7-5 and the momentum was now well and truly in his favour.

Tsonga needed just a single break in the second set, which came in the sixth game, to take a 7-5 6-3 victory and his first title of the year.

Speaking to the ATP after the match Tsonga said: "At the beginning of the match, it was a bit difficult because he broke me very early. It was tough. But in my head, everything was right.

"I said, 'Okay, I'm one break down, but I will continue to play my game. I will make him run a lot.' So I hit a lot of shots to make him run.

“I think it was the good solution because then, after that, he was maybe a bit tired. After that, I was better than him. That's why I maybe won today."

Tsonga ended 2011 on a high when he reached the final of the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2, eventually losing to Roger Federer and he looks like he could me a major threat at the Australian Open which begins next week.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw