Tsonga knocks outs Nadal

MELBOURNE, Australia — Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had been compared to a young Muhammad Ali only because of an uncanny likeness to the boxing great.

That was until he skipped across Rod Laver Arena, arms up in a biceps-flexing pose, thumbs pointing at his head after knocking out Rafael Nadal in the semifinals and getting a title shot at the Australian Open.

Nadal, ranked No. 2, got a taste of what No. 8 Richard Gasquet, No. 9 Andy Murray and No. 14 Mikhail Youzhny faced in earlier rounds.

Tsonga’s groundstrokes were audacious, his hand speed amazing. And he had the Spaniard stumbling well before he aced him on match point. The unseeded Frenchman, hampered by injuries for much of the last three seasons, eliminated Nadal 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.

“For me it’s a big dream. It’s just amazing — I played unbelievable,” Tsonga said. “Everything went in. My backhand worked a lot and my serve also. My forehand, my volley, my drop shot, everything. I was moving on the court like never I move, so everything was perfect.”

When Nadal tried to counterpunch, Tsonga had an answer — a half volley from ankle height, a powerful backhand or crisp forehand pass.

This was Nadal’s worst defeat at a major since his second-round loss to Andy Roddick at the 2004 U.S. Open — 6-0, 6-3, 6-4.

All of which means that for the third straight year, an unexpected player is in the Australian final.

Marcos Baghdatis, who edged Tsonga for the world junior No. 1 ranking in 2003, was the surprise finalist in 2006. Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez rode his big serve and powerful forehand to the final last year.

Both lost to Roger Federer, who plays No. 3 Novak Djokovic in the other semifinal today. Federer has played in the last 10 Grand Slam finals, including a win over Djokovic in the last U.S. Open final, and is bidding for a 13th major title.

Djokovic was one of three Serbians in the semifinals at Melbourne Park. One advanced and one exited on Thursday.

On the women’s side, No. 4 Ana Ivanovic was down a set and a break against Daniela Hantuchova before rebounding for a 0-6, 6-3, 6-4 win to reach her second Grand Slam final. She will meet another 20-year-old player, Russia’s Maria Sharapova, who beat Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 6-1.

Sharapova took only three games off Serena Williams in last year’s final and wants to make amends.

“You have your bad moments in your career and you have your good moments,” said Sharapova, who won Wimbledon in 2004 and the 2006 U.S. Open. “It’s been a good ride so far, but it’s not over yet.”

Ivanovic won her first game while down 2-0 in the second set. That brought cheers from the crowd, and she said it was inspiration.

She broke Hantuchova twice to make it one set apiece. After battling to hold serve in a 10-minute game that went to deuce seven times, she broke again and served out to reach her second final in four majors.

Nadal, the only man to beat Federer in the last 10 majors, had no explanation for his performance.

“I was playing fine,” Nadal said. “He played unbelievable. Congratulate him.”

Tsonga didn’t face any break points until the third set, when he saved three in one game.

“I can’t believe some of his volleys,” Nadal said. “I tried to play little bit slower; I tried to play a little bit faster; I tried to play more inside the court, behind the court. No chance. Not today.

“The truth is, I didn’t have chances in this match,” Nadal said. “In this level like he played tonight, it’s very difficult to stop.”

Tsonga’s run of injuries began in late 2004. A herniated disc caused him to miss five months through March 2005. Then came two right shoulder injuries later in 2005, back and abdominal ailments from October 2005 to February 2006 and the reoccurrence of an abdominal injury at the end of 2006.

In all, he played only eight tournaments each in 2005 and 2006. Yet it’s taken him only five majors to make his first final.

“It’s ridiculous, for sure,” Tsonga said. “It’s the first time I played this level, and it’s here in the semifinal of the Australian Open.”