David Ferrer produced an inspired comeback against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the opening game of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.
The Frenchman was typically brutal and blitzed his way through the first set, not allowing even the usually dogged Ferrer a look-in.
Spaniard Ferrer, 29, began the second with a more solid game and edged ahead before Tsonga produced some more outrageous groundstrokes to claw his way back.
Two backhand cross-court passes won the ninth and tenth games but Ferrer remained strong on his serve to take the set to a tie-break.
The pair traded points before Ferrer secured the mini-break and took the game to a decider.
Tsonga, 26, seemed downbeat after losing the tie-break and Ferrer finally imposed himself in the sunshine, running away with the set 6-2.
He will face Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals of the exhibition event tomorrow.
Pascal Lemesre
