Sports Blog

As the title said – Rafa, the ever number two tennis player from Mall orca, Spain has been hit by TSONGA Tsunami in the first men’s semifinal of the Australian Open, 2008. Joe Wilfried TSONGA, the unheralded French player has comprehensively beaten the world number two in straight set in a match played under electric atmosphere at the Rod Lever Arena (6-2, 6-3 6-2), Melbourne.

Of course there was hint of the talent that the 22 year old charismatic TSONGA always had with him. He had an excellent career in the junior circuit winning the Australian and US opens in the junior category. But since turning professional he has been sidelined for a long time due to shoulder and abdomen injuries and played only eight tournaments last year.

TSONGA who beat 9^th seed Andy Murray of Britain, his compatriot the 8^th seed Richard Gasquet and the 14^th Seed Russian Mikhail Youzhny on his way to semifinal relentlessly attacked Rafael Nadal from the first game. He broke Nadal in the 4^th game of the match and won the set easily with the score reading 6-2. Nadal had no chance against superbly controlled magical drop shots of TSONGA. In the second set, Nadal somewhat got back his rhythm and both players fought for ascendancy till the 8^th game when TSONGA through two magic moments broke Nadal to take 5-3 lead. He easily held his own serve to take the second set. The third set was no better for Nadal as TSONGA broke him on the 3^rd game and romped home with 6-2 scoreline.

The most notable aspect of the match has been – nobody have, not even Roger Federer have dominated Nadal in such a manner. He just got annihilated by a player who had everything – powerful forehands, artistic drop shots that almost looked like magical and big serves. Much to the rapturous applause of the capacity crowd an inspired TSONGA displayed all of his talents that rendered Nadal as helpless spectator.  It was not that Rafa was out of form. But TSONGA was just a better player.

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