Tsonga's Aussie exploits send French TV into crisis mode

MELBOURNE: French television has suddenly taken notice of the Australian Open now that new hero Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has reached the final.

Australian media report that the TF1 network has been negotiating at the last minute for rights to air the Sunday final against Serb Novak Djokovic, an unprecedented event in France when it comes to the first major of the season.

But in the middle of winter and with skiing and football taking the lion's share of coverage, tennis has suddenly struck a popular nerve.

Australian great Roy Emerson, who held the record of 12 Grand Slam singles title until Pete Sampras raised the bar to 14, had travelled across the Pacific from his California home to see what he thought would be Roger Federer claiming a 13th.

But instead, the Swiss superstar was upset in straight sets by surging Serb Djokovic in their semi-final.

"If he can produce that tennis and play that high a standard for three sets without a blemish - it was incredible," said the Aussie great of the Tsonga win over Rafael Nadal in the semis.

"In the second and third sets poor Nadal tried everything, and the kid just teed off. He was loose as a goose, and every shot that he tried came off. He came to the net, and he played those stop-volleys that were not only perfect, they barely cleared the net. It was an eye-opener."