In the opening match of the Davis Cup World Group quarterfinal tie between Czech Republic and France, Lukas Rosol won a marathon match lasting three hours 55 minutes 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(8), 6-4 against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to put the Czech Republic 1-0 up on the French heading into the second rubber.
Rosol takes lone break, goes up a set
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Lukas Rosol got their service games underway with comfortable holds of serve. A couple of games later with the score at 2-3, Tsonga used the slice to good effective to get the first break points of the match at 15-40. However, Rosol went on to win four of the next five points to level at 3-3. In the following game, it was the Czech's turn to have a couple of break points, this time, three of them.
The world number ten managed to erase the point, but Rosol used the crowd's energy to break the French. In the upcoming game, the 30-year-old consolidated to go 5-3 up. Tsonga held his serve and gave Rosol the opportunity of closing the set. On set point at 40-15, Rosol challenged a call that was deemed out, but was overturned and the world number 78 grabbed the opening set much to the delight of the Czech crowd.
Tsonga levels
With the crowd in full voice, Tsonga needed a way of getting back into the game. In the second game having held Tsonga went 0-30 up, but Rosol fought back to get on the board in the set. As the set progressed, both players were making unnecessary errors of their rackets.
With the set coming down to the wire, Tsonga decided to up his game and at 3-4, the 31-year-old broke Rosol at the second time of asking at advantage to go 3-5 up on the Czech. Tsonga held serve to love, consolidated the break and won the set 3-6 to level at one set apiece. Tsonga was impressive in his first service winning 89 percent of the points while on his second the Frenchman won 5/9 (56 percent).
Tsonga goes two sets to one up
It was the Frenchman who started the third set slower. The 2014 Davis Cup finalist serving 1-0 down, served a double-fault to give the two-time champion three chances of breaking. However, Tsonga dug in deep, saved four break points in the game and held for 1-1. Two games later at 2-1, Rosol had another break point opportunity and again Tsonga saved two more break points en route to levelling at 2-2.
In the next game, Tsonga broke at the first time of asking following a Rosol forehand long. The Frenchman held for 2-4. The Czech crowd were still lively and hadn't given up. But the set went the way of Tsonga with an ace. He managed to match the levels on his first serve points again winning 89 percent. Tsonga hit eight winners to five unforced errors while Rosol had seven winners and ten unforced errors.
Rosol levels sends opening rubber into deciding the fifth set
Set four was the tightest of them all. With Rosol chasing the match, the crowd were getting louder and louder, even disturbing the French team on occasions. With five games gone and nothing to separate the two players, the first break points of the set went the way of the Frenchman. From 40-15 down, Tsonga won the next three points and at advantage, Rosol produced a wonderful backhand down the line to save the point and bring a massive roar from the home crowd.
Tsonga would have another chance of breaking, but didn't take his chance and the Czech denied him and held a slender 4-3 lead. Five games came and passed with still no breakthrough. Tsonga, however, sent the set into a tiebreaker. In the breaker, Rosol saved two match points and having had one set point saved, Rosol tucked away the point, sent the match into a fifth winning 7-6(8) and the crowd were louder than ever. Following this, the momentum switched firmly in Czech's favor.
Rosol sends the Czech Republic in front
With both the player and crowd pumped he quickly got off to a good start. The former world number 37 started the set by holding and then breaking Tsonga in the next game. However, the Frenchman would stop any momentum the Czech had by breaking immediately back. For the first time in the set, Tsonga went ahead at 1-2.In the next game, Tsonga would have the chance to go ahead with a break point opportunity. However, this wasn't to be the case as he missed a forehand. Rosol then went on to hold to keep in touch at 2-2.
With the score at 3-3, the Czech came alive and at 40-15, Tsonga hit a forced error to put the match within the grasp of Rosol. The 30-year-old held his serve and consolidated for a 5-3 lead. The Frenchman held serve and gave Rosol the chance to put the Czech Republic 1-0 up in the tie. On match point at 40-15, Tsonga found some energy, erased both match points and sent the game to deuce. But Rosol came back at the Frenchman and eventually clinched the match to put the Czech's in firm control of the tie.