Tsonga Dominates In Marseille For Back-To-Back Titles
Who can stop Jo-Wilfried Tsonga?
The Frenchman won his ninth match in a row and celebrated his third Open 13 Marseille title on Sunday with a 6-4, 6-4 win against countryman Lucas Pouille. The 31-year-old Tsonga outplayed his younger compatriot, breaking the 23 year old twice to cruise in 69 minutes.
The title gives Tsonga 14 for his career and his second for 2017. He won the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam a week ago by defeating then-World No. 11 David Goffin. The win also caps one of Tsonga's best months in recent memory. Before Rotterdam, he reached the Open Sud de France semi-finals before falling to #NextGenATP star Alexander Zverev, who eventually won the ATP World Tour 250 title.
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With the Marseille title, Tsonga also improves to 17-3 on the season. He claimed the Open 13 Marseille title in 2009 and 2013 as well.
Pouille was going for his second ATP World Tour crown after winning his maiden title at the Moselle Open in Metz last September. But he struggled at times with his serve, landing about 60 per cent of his first-serve offerings. He was broken to start the match and again at 3-3 in the second set.
Pouille couldn't touch Tsonga's serve, either. Tsonga won 87 per cent of his service points (40/46), dominating games with a 1-2 punch of serve and forehand. He never faced a break point.
Tsonga will receive 250 Emirates ATP Rankings Points and should climb four spots to return to the Top 10 at No. 7 on Monday. He'll also receive €110,655 in prize money. Pouille will receive 150 Emirates ATP Rankings points and €58,250 in prize money.