Paris (AFP)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (35) qualified for the round of 16 at the Masters 1000 in Paris with Italian Matteo Berrettini, N.9 World and Masters contender, in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 Wednesday.
Tsonga (34) will face German Jan-Lennard Struff (36) on Thursday for a spot in the quarter-finals.
This defeat of Berretini, currently in the position of last virtual qualifier for the Masters of the end of the year, does the business of Gael Monfils, one of the few players still in the running for the prestigious tournament gathering the eight best players of the season, and who could now join London if he reaches the final at Bercy.
It is also synonymous with qualification guaranteed for the Masters for the young German Alexander Zverev, precisely the outgoing champion. Only one sesame remains to be attributed.
Tsonga's victory over a top-10 player is only his second in two years, after winning this summer in Washington at the expense of Karen Khachanov of Russia, then N.8 worldwide.
Monfils is against Moldovan Radu Albot (50th) in the round of 16.
© 2019 AFP