Wimbledon 2012: Tsonga beats Hewitt in straight sets

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga returns a shot to Lleyton Hewitt during a first round men’s singles match at Wimbledon, England, Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Photo/Tim Hales/AP

Fifth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga ousted former champion Lleyton Hewitt in straight sets Tuesday in the first round of Wimbledon.

Hewitt was playing as a wild card for the first time at Wimbledon and couldn’t stop the sixth-ranked Frenchman, who broke once in each set to win 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Tsonga finished with 61 winners to the Australian’s 12.

Tsonga reached the semifinals at Wimbledon last year after rallying from two sets down against Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, before losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic. Tsonga lost to Djokovic again at the French Open this year after holding four match points in their quarterfinal.

Hewitt was playing in his 14th straight Wimbledon. He had not lost in the first round since 2003, when he was the defending champion.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press