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Monday 20 February 2017
Tsonga beats Goffin to win World Tennis Tournament final
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands and dictate points more.
(AP) — Jo-Wilfried Tsonga “I changed my serve and
clinched his 13th career ti- worked a lot on my back-
tle on Sunday, rallying from hand and my returns. I
a set down to beat David also changed my strings.
Goffin of Belgium 4-6, 6-4, There were many things
6-1 in the final of the World to improve my game,” he
Tennis Tournament. said. “In the second set, I
The sixth-seeded French- showed a different mental-
man hit 10 aces and, al- ity on court. I was more ag-
though he dropped his gressive and it made the
serve twice, he broke the difference.”
third-seeded Goffin’s serve He improved to 4-2 overall
four times. in career meetings against
Tsonga, ranked 14, lost the the 11th-ranked Goffin,
final here in Rotterdam six who won both of his career
years ago. His previous title titles in 2014.
also came on indoor hard- The 31-year-old Tsonga
courts in Metz, France, two reached the milestone of
years ago. 400 career wins this week,
“I’m really happy. The last and victory in the final was
couple of months I put in a his 401st. Goffin, mean-
lot of effort to come back while, will become the first
to this level,” Tsonga said. Belgian man to break into
“It’s a huge reward for me the top 10 when the rank-
and it gives me new ex- ings are published Monday.
pectations for the rest of “I was a bit tired. I started
the year.” France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga holds the trophy as he celebrates winning his match against Belgium’s the final really well, but in
The powerful Tsonga David Goffin in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, in the men’s singles final of the ABN AMRO world tennis the end Jo played better
changed his approach to tournament at the Ahoy stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017. than me,” the 26-year-old
play more to his strengths Associated Press Goffin said.q