Everyone enjoys playing at home and few receive the vocal backing that the French do when they play in front of their crowd. This week the local players have taken that to their advantage in Metz as all three Frenchmen in action at the Moselle Open today advanced to the next round.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was made to sweat to overcome Mischa Zverev in three sets and his quest for a third title in Metz continues in the quarter finals where he awaits the winner of a duel of countrymen between Mannarino and Mahut.
Nicolas Mahut was precisely the last man on court and he ensured that the home fans went home happy after dispatching Federico Delbonis 6-2, 7-5. The other Frenchman to grab a win was Pierre-Hugues Herbert who made the most of a wild card, as he looks to get his singles career back on track after winning the doubles title at the US Open alongside Mahut, defeating Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-2, 7-5.
Two Germans also notched up wins today, as Kohlschreiber defeated Millman and Dustin Brown did the same to Rajeev Ram. Paolo Lorenzi edged past Belgian Davis Cup hero Steve Darcis in three sets and Gilles Muller fires 17 aces past Fernando Verdasco en route to a 7-6, 7-6 victory in the second round.
Tomorrow the top seeds come into play, as Stan Wawrinka takes on Dustin Brown and Gilles Simon squares off with Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
