Tsonga sure bad back will not be hindrance

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga overcame a one-set deficit and an injury scare to cruise past Mardy Fish and earn a quarter-final place at Wimbledon.

Tsonga started a set down after Monday’s downpour, but he recovered to record a 4-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 6-4 despite two lengthy rain delays to the Court Two action.

The win, which pits him against Philipp Kohlschreiber in the last eight, came at a cost, however, as Tsonga needed to have treatment on a back injury that troubled him throughout the match.

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Tsonga, who clinched the match with a 128mph ace – his 20th of the match – insists his injury will not prevent him from giving his all against Kohlschreiber. “It’s not serious, not at all,” he said.

Florian Mayer finished off Richard Gasquet to line-up a Court One quarter-final against top seed Novak Djokovic, who was a winner on Monday against fellow Serbian Victor Troicki.

Mayer claimed the first two sets before the Frenchman hit back in the third, but the German held on to win 6-3 6-1 3-6 6-2.

Six-time champion Roger Federer and first-time quarter-finalist Mikhail Youzhny, who both won through on Monday, open the play today on Centre Court at 1pm.