Tennis: Tsonga labours to first-round win

DOHA: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga laboured to a first-round victory at the Qatar Open, defeating wildcard Malek Jaziri 7-6, 6-7, 6-1 after struggling with his forehand. “I played a lot last year to come back into the top 10, it was really difficult for me,” said Tsonga after the match. “I came into this tournament without very good preparation. However, I’ve won and hopefully will play good tennis.” Ivo Karlovic of Croatia beat Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, while Matthias Bachinger cruised past Roberto Bautista of Spain 6-3, 6-4.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2012.