The Swiss took just an hour and 28 minutes to beat the 10th seed 6-2 6-3 6-2 and set up an Australian Open final against Andy Murray.
Federer took control early in the match and there was no way back for Tsonga, who seemed a shadow of his usual self.
The Swiss star served supremely but, in truth, he was hardly tested.
Federer, a three-time champion at Melbourne Park who is into his 22nd Grand Slam final, was always expected to have too much in his armoury for the charismatic Tsonga but the ease of his victory was still surprising.
Tsonga looked nervous at the start, and he was broken in the fourth game after a poor drop shot allowed Federer to pass him easily with a forehand.
The French No.10 seed did take Federer to deuce twice in the next game, but the Swiss never flinched and confirmed the break to go 4-1 ahead.
Tsonga was hanging at the back of the court and looking more than a little jaded, and that enabled a second break for Federer to seal the first set in just 31 minutes.
After two five-setters in the tournament, Tsonga was tired, but he could not even muster some fight and seemed resigned to his fate after yet more errors helped Federer to 4-2 with a break in the second, and that set was quickly in the bag.
The third game of the third set was also a break for Federer, and with Tsonga shaking his head the Rod Laver Arena was eerily subdued as the crowd were almost embarrassed at the manner of the impending defeat.
A second break thankfully hastened the end, and Federer moved without worry into Sunday's final, when he will surely face a tougher task against an in-form Murray.
"I feel good about my game but I didn't expect something even close to this kind of scoreline, so obviously it feels great," Federer said after reaching a record 22nd Grand Slam final.
"The crowd were rather on the quiet side towards the end because also they were a bit surprised I think how fast it went. I felt like this could be a good match for me. I'm hitting the ball well.
"Tonight was definitely one of the nights where I felt like I had that extra split second more time to think where I was going to play, what I was going to do with the ball.
"So you always feel like you almost have a second option. You have to be careful you don't overdo it and make sure you still go with the right plays."
0 коментара:
Post a Comment