Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon both won their semi-finals to ensure that the final of Metz this year is an all French affair.
Simon recovered from deficits in both sets to defeat Klizan 6-4, 6-4. The Slovakian left-hander had led by a break in both sets, but Simon fought hard, with his consistency eventually wearing down the world number 35. Simon rattled off the final four games of the first set, and six of the last seven in the second, for the victory. Despite his defeat, Klizan will be heartened by the fact that his run to the semi-finals represents his first period of back-to-back wins on the ATP tour since April (he played and won through qualifying in Winston Salem). It also marks his first semi-final since that tournament in April, Barcelona, where he fell to Kei Nishikori.
Tsonga’s win over Philipp Kohlschreiber was surprisingly, similarly routine to Simon’s as he also also progressed in straight sets, dispatching the 34 ranked German 6-3, 6-4. Kohlschreiber was proving strong when he managed to get his first serve in play, dropping just one point when he did. But the story was only managing thirty-five percent of those deliveries in. Tsonga proved much more receptive to the second serve delivery, and secured the first set with a single break.
Tsonga increasingly saw success against Kohlschreiber’s serve in the second set ,both first and second, and broke twice. Kohlschreiber replied with a break of his own, but could level the match. The win sees Tsonga increase his head-to-head against Kohlschreiber to a commanding 8-1. Tsonga has won all of their clashes on hardcourts, with Kohlschreiber’s lone win coming on clay. Kohlschreiber had taken a late wildcard into this event, and had been the beneficiary of Stan Wawrinka’s retirement before their quarter-final on Friday.
The wins for the two frenchmen sees a repeat of the 2013 Final. Simon was the victor in that match, though Tsonga leads the overall head-to-head. Metz is played on indoor hardcourts, and Tsonga leads in that statistic with a 3-1 record.
The singles final will not start before 3 30pm, (2 3opm GMT) with the doubles final between Herbert/Mahut and Kubot Roger-Vasselin taking place first.
