Derry then had the chance to snatch an unlikely draw when a high ball fell to Paddy Bradley eight yards out deep in injury-time but Barry Cahill stretched to make a superb block as the Hill held its breath.
Tsonga won the Paris title in 2008 to snatch qualification for last year's season finale, and might have had high hopes of repeating the trick as he faced Nadal, who had come from match points down in both his previous matches.