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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga trounces Andy Murray

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray’s much-awaited return from a lower back injury ended in a painful defeat against the feisty Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Murray never managed to bring his A-game during his 7-5 6-3 defeat to the Frenchman on the opening day of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Tsonga also played his first match after a knee injury kept him out of the game for more than two months. But it seemed he was never away as his booming serves and ferocious groundstrokes proved too strong for the Briton. Tsonga will now take on world number two Novak Djokovic in Friday’s second semi-final.

“I am happy to be playing again after the injury. It was obviously very nice to win my first match. I played a good game today. I felt good physically. Also I love playing here in Abu Dhbai. It’s such a great tournament. And the crowd here is always great,” a smiling Tsonga said after the match.

Murray didn’t have a result to smile on Thursday, but the two-time Grand Slam winner was happy with the way he played. “I think my movement was really good. That’s was very pleasing. In the first set, I did really well,” Murray later told reporters in the post-match Press conference.

“But I slowed down in the second set. That will improve as I play more matches. Also it was difficult for me on my first game after that injury to play on such a fast court against such a top player like Jo. There were lot of short points and plus he comes to the net so often; I am not sharp enough to tackle that right now. But as I said, I will improve as I play more matches. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to play a better match.”

The biggest advantage of playing in Abu Dhabi is that it gives Murray a chance to play at least two matches, something he needs so badly. He will now face Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka in the fifth place playoff on Friday.

Earlier, an inspired David Ferrer put Wawrinka to the sword with a ruthless display of baseline tennis. The Spaniard won 7-5 6-1 to kick off the new season in style. The match lasted exactly an hour as the tenacious Ferrer booked a place in Friday’s first semi-final against compatriot and world number 1 Rafael Nadal.

Wawrinka did provide resistance at the start of the first set and even broke Ferrer in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. But Ferrer, the French Open runner-up, was in no mood to relent. He kept going for his shots and was eventually rewarded in the 10^th game when he broke Wawrinka to get back on serve. From then on, Ferrer completely turned it into a one –man show as he not only won the first set by breaking Wawrinka again, but he completely dominated the second set.

The match stats revealed everything about Ferrer’s dominance. His first serve percentage was 64 compared to Wawrinka’s 48, he hit six aces and won 62 points to Wawrinka’s 42.

“It was a nice win. The first set wasn’t so easy though. He was playing well, making it difficult for me, but I managed to stay in the contest. That’s what matters,” a smiling Ferrer said after the match.

“It was a nice way to start the new season. It gives you confidence. I felt good on the court. Now tomorrow I play Rafa. I don’t know how many times I have played him. Must be a thousand times at least! I beat him when he was a kid (laughs). Another new match tomorrow and I will again try to give my best.”