Chasing Novak Djokovic all evening, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga finally seemed to have the frontrunner right where he wanted him—off balance at net. But the elastic Serb answered by angling a stretch volley, bouncing back into position, then spinning a forehand pass up the line.
Even when Tsonga tested the top seed, Djokovic often turned danger to dazzle. Serving with authority and striking cleanly from the baseline, Djokovic deconstructed Tsonga, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (5), to surge into the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the seventh time.
Playing his most assertive tennis of the tournament, Djokovic was exceptional on serve. He made 71 percent of first serves, won 68 percent of his second-serve points, slashed 14 aces, and denied the only two break points he faced—at 3-4 in the third set—with an ace and a service winner.
The sight of Djokovic's name in the draw must evoke images of the skull-and-crossbones in Tsonga's head: Nole had won 10 consecutive matches and 15 straight sets against the flashy Frenchman. That streak of dominance stretches back to Djokovic's entertaining four-set win over Tsonga in the 2011 Wimbledon semifinals, and includes a 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 thrashing at Roland Garros earlier this month. Djokovic disarms Tsonga because he can break down Jo's stiffer backhand with his damaging two-hander, he defends his second serve more effectively, he's a sniper on return, and more dangerous on the move.
Both men came out cracking the ball. Given that Djokovic had surrendered serve only three times in his three tournament wins and Tsonga sometimes shows more verve in his victory dance than he does in his return game, protecting serve was essential. Tsonga stayed in step through the first four games, then Djokovic picked up the pace and earned triple break point. Tsonga slapped a forehand down the line that missed the mark and stared up at the ceiling gazing at a 2-4 hole that must have felt familiar. Djokovic sealed the 25-minute first set with a 122 M.P.H. ace wide.
