Vienna: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga rallied from a set and a break down to beat Juan Martin Del Potro 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday in the final of the Erste Bank Open, claiming his second title of the season and seventh overall.
The top-seeded Tsonga will officially move past Mardy Fish to No. 7 in the 2011 points list on Monday. The top eight will qualify for the season-ending ATP finals in London next month.
"It was a special win," the ninth-ranked Frenchman said. "I was supposed to win some points here and I did it ... For now it's good, but I will have to play well next week (in Valencia) so I will stay focused."
Tsonga had lost all three previous matches against Del Potro but recovered strongly after falling a break down in the second set to win four straight games.
"It was an amazing match. At the beginning it was really tight," Tsonga said. "I was a bit down after losing that tie-breaker but I didn't give away any easy points afterward."
The second-seeded Del Potro, who is now 9-4 in career finals, is still waiting for his first victory at an indoor event. The Argentine will climb to 11th on the points list, leaving him with a slim chance of reaching the London event.
"I was close, had my chances but did not take them. In the important moments, Jo played much better than me," Del Potro said. "After that re-break he played more aggressive, served unbelievable. It was really a different match after that moment."
Both players held serve in the opening set until the tie-breaker. Tsonga was 0-40 down in his opening service game but used four aces to hold. He then missed three chances to break Del Potro's serve at 4-4.
In the tie-breaker, Tsonga handed Del Potro a first set point by double-faulting at 5-5 and then hit a forehand long in the next rally.
Del Potro used his first break ball to go 2-1 up in the second set but Tsonga won five of the next six games and closed out the set with an ace.
"After that I was more relaxed," Tsonga said. "I think he had difficulties physically to continue to play aggressively. That made it easier for me to be in the court and be more aggressive."
Del Potro hit a forehand wide on the only break point in the final set before Tsonga wrapped up victory with an approach shot that wrong-footed the 2009 US Open champion.
It was the 12th ATP final this season that featured the top two seeds, but only the fifth time the No. 1 actually won the title.
A farewell ceremony was held at the end of the final for former No. 1 Thomas Muster of Austria, who played his last match on the ATP circuit on Tuesday. The celebrations included an appearance by 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic.
"It was special that Thomas and Goran were there," Tsonga said. "Goran was one of my favorite players when I was young. He did a lot of entertainment on the court too and it was just amazing to be there with him."
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