French Open 2013: Men’s Semi-Finals Preview

David Ferrer [4] vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga [6]

• Overall H2H: 2 – 1
• Clay H2H: 1 – 0
• Grand Slam H2H: 0 – 1
• H2H since 2011: 1 – 1

Surface of Play

Considering this dimension in isolation, this is a mismatch. Ferrer tirelessly runs around the baseline retrieving balls for ever, like he was born to play on clay. The primary reason for his lack of Roland Garros success has been the presence of the Big Four. The hulking Tsonga, on the other hand, has had his best results on the quicker grass and hard courts. However, this is now Tsonga’s best ever showing at the French Open, and his clinical dismantling of Federer the other day might indicate a new-found understanding of the demands of clay.

Edge: Ferrer

Head-to-Head Match-up

The most puzzling statistic between these two veterans on the circuit is that they have played each other just thrice in their careers, once each on clay, grass and hard courts. Should we blame the Big Four and their dominating ways again for this lack of opportunity for other perfectly fine tennis players to build some kind of history? It makes one wonder what kind of intriguing rivalries have been missed over the years because of the cartel at the top. As expected, Ferrer won the only time these two players met on clay before.

Edge: Ferrer

Occasion

The French crowd will definitely want a piece of this action. It has been 30 years since a son-of-the-soil lifted the trophy at Roland Garros, and the belief that the drought’s end might be in sight has been gradually building up over the week. Even Yannick Noah himself, a pessimist of French hopes before the fortnight, has said that Tsonga’s impressive run has him now ‘hoping against hope’.

Though Tsonga can count on the crowd to provide him support, he is no Gael Monfils. The vociferous home crowd could easily turn out to be a factor against him, if he falls prey to one of his inexplicable lapses in concentration. After all, Tsonga himself expressed doubts very recently about any Frenchman winning Roland Garros anytime soon. At the other end, Ferrer, the Davis Cup stalwart for Spain, knows a thing or two about playing in the enemy’s camp, and tends to thrive in those situations. He might, in all probability, be licking his lips at the prospect of playing Tsonga and 14,000 other French people on Friday.

Edge: Ferrer

Trending Form

Neither player has lost a set so far in the tournament, which is a testament to the consistently high standard of tennis they have exhibited this fortnight. In the lead-up tournaments to the French Open, Ferrer was stopped by Nadal on a couple of occasions, which can never be a disgrace. Tsonga had a more up-and-down road to Roland Garros. At that time, it seemed like a usual clay court season for him. Now, in the semi-finals of the French Open, things look distinctly different.

Edge: Ferrer

Prediction: Although Ferrer outshines Tsonga on all four counts, the margins are not high, and this should be an exciting match between the explosive shotmaking of Tsonga and the relentless grinding of Ferrer. Expect the ever-consistent Ferrer to make it through to his first Grand Slam final in four close sets.

Random Point to Ponder: If Tsonga does manage to make it to the final on Sunday, would he give his entire presentation speech in French?