Tsonga to play Bangalore Open

Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is likely to light up the US $ 436,000 Bangalore Open, to be staged at the KSLTA stadium from September 29 to October 5.

"As of now, only Tsonga has confirmed," the Bangalore Open organisers informed. "Getting players has been a challenge especially with the late confirmation."

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The tournament, scheduled to be played in the first week of October, will have to compete with events in Metz and Tokyo, which offer bigger prize money.

The ATP event has shifted from Mumbai to the country's IT hub. Mumbai, in turn, will host the WTA Tier-III Sunfeast Open, which has moved out of Kolkata.

Tsonga, nicknamed Mohammed Ali for the striking resemblance to the iconic boxer, shot to fame at this year's Australian Open as he slayed three top ten players, including world number two Rafael Nadal in the semi-final.

He eventually lost 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-7(2) to Serb Novak Djokovic in the final, but his run in Melbourne propelled him to top-20 in the world. He is currently ranked no.17.

The Frenchman has suffered from loss of form and injuries thereafter.