Roger Federer vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga LIVE updates: Swiss star loses second set 6-4 in Halle

  • Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga play in the final second round match of the draw.
  • Federer has won in Halle nine times and is aiming for a record-extending 10th title.

  • This is the first meeting between the players on grass since 2011 when Tsonga beat Federer in five sets.

  • Tsonga has dropped to 77th in the world after injury.

ROGER FEDERER VS JO-WILFRIED TSONGA LIVE

THIRD SET (*denotes server)

FEDERER 7-6 4-6 4-5 TSONGA*

Equally impressive service game from Tsonga as he holds to 15 and puts the pressure back on Federer. Can the Swiss hold his nerve?

*FEDERER 7-6 4-6 4-4 TSONGA

Much better service game from Federer as he holds to love in no time at all.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won the second set (Image: EPA)

FEDERER 7-6 4-6 3-4 TSONGA*

Ace number 15 from Tsonga, 30-15. And another deft drop volley keeps him in front. Superb touch.

The roof is being closed as we speak. Perhaps some rain in the area is coming.

*FEDERER 7-6 4-6 3-3 TSONGA

Federer forehand shank, 0-30. He escapes again to make it 30-all. Wow, Federer nets a smash inexplicably, break point.

Saved when Tsonga goes wide with a forehand. And Federer gets out of jail again.

FEDERER 7-6 4-6 2-3 TSONGA*

More big serving from Tsonga then finishes the game with a delicate drop shot. Classy stuff. He’s enjoying himself out there.

*FEDERER 7-6 4-6 2-2 TSONGA

Tsonga goes long with a backhand up the line, 40-30. And the Swiss holds after a cross court forehand winner. Another tough game for the 37-year-old.

FEDERER 7-6 4-6 1-2 TSONGA*

Eight points from eight for Tsonga on serve. He’s the man with the momentum right now.

*FEDERER 7-6 4-6 1-1 TSONGA

Federer backhand into the net, 0-30. Better from Federer as he bosses the point and draws the error from Tsonga, 30-30. 

Federer backhand winner, 40-30. And the Swiss stops Tsonga’s little streak.

FEDERER 7-6 4-6 0-1 TSONGA*

Tsonga holds to love to start the set.

Roger Federer

Roger Federer vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga LIVE (Image: GETTY/EPA)

SECOND SET

*FEDERER 7-6 4-6 TSONGA

Federer backhand error, 15-30. Tsonga forehand winner, two set points. Federer goes long with a volley and we are going the distance. 

Brilliant comeback from Tsonga.

FEDERER 7-6 4-5 TSONGA*

Federer forehand long, 40-0. And another forehand error from Federer means he will have to serve to stay in the set.

*FEDERER 7-6 4-4 TSONGA

Normal service resumed on serve for Federer as he holds to love.

FEDERER 7-6 3-4 TSONGA*

Tsonga completes the comeback as a series of big serves puts him ahead in the set.

*FEDERER 7-6 3-3 TSONGA

Federer forehand wide, 15-30. Then Federer nets a backhand, two break points. Federer saves both, including a second serve ace.

Third break chance for Tsonga as Federer’s forehand clips the net and flies wide. And the French star gets back level when he smashes a forehand down the line and Federer can only put the volley wide.

FEDERER 7-6 3-2 TSONGA*

Tsonga ace, 40-15 and he forces the error from Federer after some booming backhands.

Roger Federer

Roger Federer is a nine-time champion in Halle (Image: EPA)

*FEDERER 7-6 3-1 TSONGA

Lovely Tsonga forehand down the line, 30-15. Federer smash winner, 40-30. Tsonga then goes wide with a return to allow Federer to keep his lead.

FEDERER 7-6 2-1 TSONGA*

Tsonga ace, 30-all. Then Federer nets a forehand return. Tsonga ace to survive this service game.

*FEDERER 7-6 2-0 TSONGA

Tsonga return wide, 40-15. Great hands at the net from Federer and he consolidates the break.

FEDERER 7-6 1-0 TSONGA*

Break point Federer after Tsonga puts a backhand slice long.

And he gets the first break of the match with a stunning forehand return winner. What a start to the set.

FIRST SET

FEDERER 7-6 TSONGA – TIEBREAK

Federer forehand wide as Tsonga goes on the attack, 0-1. Federer backhand wide, 0-2. Tsonga ace, his seventh of the match, 0-3. Tsonga return long, 1-3.

Another Tsonga return long, 2-3. Tsonga nets a forehand, 3-3. Tsonga ace, 3-4. Federer smash winner, 4-4. Lovely Federer drive forehand into the corner, 5-4.

Great Federer return and Tsonga puts a defensive forehand long, 6-4. Big Tsonga serve, 6-5. Big Federer serve, 7-5.

FEDERER 6-6 TSONGA*

Tsonga backhand slice long, 15-30. Big forehand winner from Tsonga then an ace, 40-30. Federer fails to get the return in play and it’s tiebreak time.

Roger Federer

Roger Federer won the first set in a tiebreak (Image: EPA)

 *FEDERER 6-5 TSONGA

Glorius backhand overhead from Federer, 30-0. Tsonga then goes long with a forehand return to give Federer another easy game.

FEDERER 5-5 TSONGA*

Ace No4 for Tsonga, 30-15. Tsonga nets a forehand, 30-30. Great rally ends with Federer picking off Tsonga at the net, set point.

Big Tsonga serve down the T, deuce. Then an ace. Tsonga shanks a forehand, deuce again. Tsonga forehand winner then Federer misses with a backhand up the line.

Big hold for Tsonga.

*FEDERER 5-4 TSONGA

Federer second serve ace, 40-0. And the Swiss comes through another service game thanks to a forehand winner.

FEDERER 4-4 TSONGA*

Back-to-back aces move Tsonga to 40-0. A Federer forehand winner makes it 40-30. But Tsonga ends Federer’s fightback with a big wide serve.

*FEDERER 4-3 TSONGA

Better from Federer on serve as he holds to love. Normal service resumes.

FEDERER 3-3 TSONGA*

Tsonga finds the gap to flick a backhand up the line, 30-0. Then he hits another forehand winner.

Federer finally gets a point on Tsonga’s serve when the French star nets a forehand. But he flicks another backhand winner, this time cross court to hold comfortably again.

*FEDERER 3-2 TSONGA

Tsonga catches the line with a forehand winner, 0-15. Then Federer goes long with a forehand down the line. Federer then nets a forehand, two break points.

Ace. Forehand winner. Back to deuce. And a volley at the net closes out the game. A good recovery there.

FEDERER 2-2 TSONGA*

Tsonga ace, 40-0. Then a wrong-footing forehand winner into the corner. Made that look very easy.

*FEDERER 2-1 TSONGA

Tsonga gets the first point against serve as a good return catches out Federer at the net. But wins the game with a big serve down the T.

FEDERER 1-1 TSONGA*

Good serving from Tsonga as Federer fails to get the ball back with his returns. Both players hold to love.

*FEDERER 1-0 TSONGA

Tsonga just long with a forehand down the line, 40-0. And Federer closes out the game with an ace.

16:35: Federer to serve first…

16:30: Right on cue, Federer walks out to a huge ovation from the Halle crowd as he follows Tsonga onto court.

16:25: FIVE MINUTES TO GO KLAXON!

16:20: Federer is the top seed this week in Halle and comes into the match as the favourite over Tsonga, who is making his way back up the rankings after injury.

The last match between Federer and Tsonga came in 2016 which the Frenchman won.

16:00: Federer and Tsonga will start on time at around 16:30 BST. That is because Alexander Zverev has defeated American Steve Johnson 6-3 7-5.

15:45: Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of Roger Federer’s second-round clash against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Halle Open.

source: express.co.uk