Fernando Gonzalez wound up his formal Australian Open preparation with a defeat of Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 7-6 (9/7) in relegation round play at the Kooyong Classic Friday.
The programme was reduced to the Gonzalez-Ljubicic match after Juan Martin del Potro withdrew Thursday from Friday's semi-final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the eight-man event.
Tsonga played a practice match against Tommy Haas, defeating the veteran German 6-4, 6-3.
Tsonga, the 2008 Australian Open finalist, will play for the title on Saturday against Spain's Fernando Verdasco. "He's a good test. I lost to him in the (Open) quarter-finals last year," said Tsonga.
"I'm hitting the ball well -- perfect.... My game is improving match after match. I'm playing better and better every day, I will be ready for the Open. I feel good physically. I'm very confident."
Gonzalez, who lost to Roger Federer in the Melbourne Park title match three years ago, now turns his mind to first-round Open opponent Olivier Rochus.
"You don't have easy matches in the slam and Olivier is coming back," the Chilean said of his 57th-ranked challenger. "We know each other really well for a long time, so it's going to be a tough match."
Gonzales won both their previous meetings, at the Beijing Olympics and in Auckland in 2005.
The 29-year-old South American saved a Ljubicic set point and took the straight-sets win on his third match point on a shot called as an ace to the disappointment of the Croatian.
"It's already Friday so, two more days to go," the winner said of the fast-approaching major. "I feel better and better.... These three matches were really good for my game.
"A year ago I was a little bit nervous at this stage, but this time, I'm calm. I played a full season last year and I played good in the Slams."
Copyright 2010 AFP Global Edition
