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Summary Roger Federer set up a Paris Masters final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Roger Federer barely sweated as he beat Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-3 to set up a Paris Masters final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who had to save three match points in a gritty win against American John Isner on Saturday.The sixth-seeded Tsonga beat the unseeded Isner 3-6, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (3) in a gritty contest lasting nearly three hours, a total contrast to Federers breezy victory in 80 minutes.Federer, the 16-time Grand Slam champion, looked impregnable on his serve and did not face a break point. He broke the fifth-seeded Berdychs serve at the start of each set to take control.I really played great today. I didnt give Tomas much. I was able to play aggressive and serve good, so overall it was a wonderful performance, Federer said. I just felt like I was reading his serve, I was playing well from the baseline.Federer agreed that he was close to his best in making his first Paris Masters final.I take it as a compliment because the Roger Federer of old, he lost five matches a year and won 90 or 80, Federer said. I think he did really well to hang in there, because I did have more chances than him.The Swiss star, who won his home tournament in Basel last week, will try for his 69th title in his 99th final. He has now reached at least the final of all nine Masters events.Tsonga won his only Masters title in Paris three years ago, and aims for his eighth career title. He almost threw away the semifinal against Isner when, serving at 40-15 up in the 12th game of the third set, he let Isner back in.Tsonga saved three match points, with Isner helping him with unforced errors from the baseline.Isner held serve for the entire match, but Tsonga dominated the tiebreakers to give the final a Frenchman for the fourth successive year.Tsonga won the first tiebreaker 7-1, and the second 7-3, clinching victory on his first match point with a quick forehand pass that flew past Isner, who was hoping to become the first American to win here since Andre Agassi in 1999.Tsonga and Federer are set to meet for the sixth time this year, and first since the U.S. Open quarterfinals when Federer prevailed.Federer leads the matchups 5-3 overall, but two of Tsongas wins were this year at Wimbledon and the Rogers Cup.
