Momentum is building for Federer as Tsonga challenge swept away

Federer, who ended a 10-month wait for a tour success in Basle last week, continued to build momentum ahead of the ATP World Tour finals in London later this month with a first win at a tournament that had always eluded him in the past.

He blew away his French rival in winning the first set in just 30 minutes, before he coped with some much improved tennis from Tsonga to edge the second on a tie-break.

Tsonga has twice beaten Federer this year and looked as though he could record a third upset when he forced two break points in the first game of the match.

Federer did not lose his composure and clung on to go 1-0 up.

Tsonga’s own service game started with two strong deliveries but Federer soon found his feet and broke his opponent at the first attempt.

Federer’s serve was soon looking impenetrable and Tsonga made a handful of unforced errors as 3-0 became 5-1, leaving the Swiss to serve for the set.

Tsonga managed to save one set point but could only delay the inevitable.

The second set saw Tsonga give the home fans more to cheer as he tightened up on serve and put Federer under more pressure.

The score reached 2-1 on serve before Tsonga failed to convert a good opportunity to make his first break in the fourth game.

He went close again with the score at 4-3, a superb backhand giving him break point and a line judge’s call stopping him going 5-3 in front.

As it was the pair could not be prised apart and it reached a tie-break at 6-6.

Federer immediately took the initiative, racing into a 6-1 lead that left him five championship points.

Tsonga won the next two to make Federer serve for the win, which he promptly secured after the Frenchman’s forehand cleared the baseline.