Tsonga to face Berdych in Stockholm Open final

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France and Czech Tomas Berdych will contest the Stockholm Open final after recording semifinal wins in contrasting fashion yesterday.

Top-seeded Tsonga advanced after his opponent Marcos Baghdatis retired with a left groin strain in the deciding set, with Tsonga leading 6-4, 4-6, 5-2.

Later, Berdych recorded a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 win over claycourt specialist Nicolas Almagro of Spain.

Berdych has a 2-1 edge over Tsonga in previous meetings, coming off his quarterfinal win over the Frenchman in Shanghai earlier this month.