Tsonga beats Aussie teen Jasika at Open

Melburnian teenager Omar Jasika is out of the Australian Open but he says the week has been the best of his life.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has beaten Jack Sock in straight-sets to reach the Australian Open fourth round. (AAP)

French ace Jo-Wilfried Tsonga showed both his caring side and his brute strength in dispatching emerging Melburnian Omar Jasika from the Australian Open.

Tsonga bounced out the next-generation hopeful 7-5 6-1 6-4 in 103 minutes on Wednesday night, ending Jasika's maiden grand slam in the second round.

The world No.10 paused only to help a young ballgirl attend to a bleeding nose, walking her off Margaret Court Arena to great applause.

Back on the court, Tsonga used all of his advantages - 12 more years' experience and a 30kg-heavier frame - to end Jasika's Open in straight sets.

Jasika was competitive but never in the contest in his first meeting with a player ranked in the world's top 75.

He said the tournament, which began with a win over Ukrainian Illya Marchenko, was probably the best week of his life.

"I've learnt a lot. Playing against these guys, I've learnt how much it actually takes to become a top-10 player," he said.

"The physicality, trying to sustain the same level throughout the whole match ... got the better of me today.

"It was a great match - fun out there. I'll never forget this."

The 18-year-old showed glimpses of his potential, breaking Tsonga to lead the first set.

Jasika engaged his fine running game to win a stunning rally and break the Frenchman in the fifth game.

He was immediately broken back, then showed heart to recover from 0-40 to hold serve.

Tsonga broke in the 12th game to claim a tight first set and blew his young competitor away in the second.

The third was more of a fight, with Jasika claiming a 20-shot rally that showed his determination.

But without the Frenchman's weapons, he was unable to crack the 2008 Australian Open finalist.

Tsonga, who will play countryman Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the third round, praised his young opponent.

"At the start, he played really well and got on top of me ... he's got a different game than older players," he said.

"He's very talented.

"I started to understand a bit more and I played well - I'm really happy to get through."


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Source: AAP


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