Black Tennis Pros

The Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai began a bit rough for France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. You remember, the whole "towelgate" thing? Then there was the very tight loss to Spanaird Juan Martin del Potro 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5). After having just won the Paris Masters, the tables turned dramatically on Tsonga. All of that drama ended today.

Tsonga, who was already eliminated from competition and having lost the first set, came swinging back and stopped a potential clean sweep of the Gold Group by Serbian Novak Djokovic. Tsonga defeated Djokovic 1-6, 7-5, 6-1. The Frenchman fought back in the second set and was a man on fire in the third. It was poetry in motion.

It seems as if ever since his loss in the Australian Open final this year, Tsonga has pretty much had Djokovic's number. This defeat gives Tsonga three wins in a row over the Djokovic after his victories in Bangkok and Paris.

"He was better than me in the first two sets, but I took the second one. It was daylight robbery!" Tsonga said.

"It's not easy. This is the tournament for the best eight players in the world. Every match is difficult and you've got to give your best to win," Djokovic said.

"He had more support from the crowd, but I don't blame them. He's a good player, an interesting player, plays with a lot of emotion. He deserved to win today."

Photos By Getty Images