Tsonga upsets Shapovalov, Cilic safely through

Shahida Jacobs

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga rolled back the years as he beat 15th seed Denis Shapovalov in five sets in the second round of the Australian Open.

The former Australian Open finalist twice came from a set behind and also overturned a 5-2 deficit in the decider to win 3-6, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5.

Tsonga won five straight games in the fifth set to win in three hours and 37 minutes against the 18-year-old Canadian.

“Of course I’m tired but really happy. I did a big fight today,” the Frenchman, who will face Nick Kyrgios in the third round, said.

“It’s not easy to play against the young guns. They go for everything. It’s not easy for me to defend.

“It was really difficult for me because I struggle physically.”

Sixth seed Marin Cilic had a much easier day at the office as he beat Joao Sousa 6-1, 7-5, 6-2 while No. 10 Pablo Carreno Busta is also through after Gilles Simon retired while the Spaniard was leading 6-2, 3-0.

Meanwhile, 39-year-old Ivo Karlovic booked his place in the third round with marathon 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 4-6, 12-10 win over Japan’s Yuichi Sugita, with the match taking four hours and 33 minutes to complete.

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