(April 12, 2010) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga spent much of today's match in denial to squeeze out a 7-6(5), 7-5 victory over Nicolas Almagro at the Monte Carlo Masters.

The charismatic Frenchman denied 10 of the 11 break points he faced in edging the 34th-ranked Spaniard for the second time this season.

Tsonga scored a 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-7(6), 9-7 win over Almagro in the Australian Open round of 16 in January.

Today, it was Almagro who pressed the issue early with several break point chances.

Tsonga saved a break point to hold in a grueling 8-and-a-half minute game to level for 1-all.

Almagro again threatened to break in the sixth game only to see Tsonga saved four break points in a 13-minute, 33-second game highlighted by an ace that was in incorrectly called wide. Almagro appeared to circle the wrong mark. That transgression fired up Tsonga who held for 3-all.

Serving at 4-all, Almagro staved off a break point with a bold backhand down the line.

As the rain began to fall creating heavy conditions, Tsonga held at love to force breaker.

A flurry of inside out forehands from Tsonga pushed Almagro on defensive well behind the baseline. Then Tsonga hit a forehand drop shot winner for 5-3. Almagro ran down a Tsonga half volley and flicked a running forehand pass for 5-all.

Tsonga stepped around backhand and blasted a forehand winner down the line for set point. Running off  the doubles alley, Tsonga smacked a crosscourt forehand winner to take the set 7-6(5).