Berdych Wins Heavyweight Clash over Tsonga in Stockholm

With the win, Berdych ups his career record against the Frenchman to 3-1. The win also qualifies Berdych for the 2012 ATP Championships in London.

By Chris Oddo

(October 21, 2012)—Tomas Berdych became the first Czech to win the Stockholm Open title in 23 years with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Sunday.

The win, Berdych’s eighth career title, nudges the 27-year-old closer to qualifying for the Barclays ATP World Tour finals in early November. Berdych is currently sixth in the race to London.

"To qualify into London is special, this is the one where you have to play well all year to get into the tournament,” said Berdych. “I'm hoping to make it for the third year in a row."

Today's final was close down to the wire.

Berdych saved a break point to move ahead 5-4 in the decider, then Tsonga saved two match points before finally dropping serve—and the match—when he double faulted on Berdych’s third match point.

"I just tried to stay positive until the end and tried to take points one by one," Berdych said.

With the win, Berdych ups his career record against the Frenchman to 3-1, including two consecutive wins this fall.

Tsonga, who broke in the fifth game of the first set on his way to a one set to love lead, was also up a break in the second set before Berdych rallied back.

The World No. 6 broke to level the second set at 4-all, then won the next two games to even the match.

In the final set, Berdych saved all four break points he faced, while Tsonga saved the first five before finally yielding on the last.

With the defeat, Tsonga dropped to 9-7 lifetime in finals, and 2-2 in 2012. “I gave my best tennis and I lost,” said Tsonga. “So I have nothing to regret."

The last Stockholm final to be contested between the top two seeds occurred in 1991, when No. 2-seeded Boris Becker beat No. 1-seeded Stefan Edberg in five sets.

(Photo Credit: Soren Andersson/AP)