By Chris Oddo Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images
(February 22, 2012) – 2009 Open 13 champion and current world No. 6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga booked a spot in the quarterfinals today with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Nicolas Mahut at the Palais des Sports de Marseille.
The theme of big servers dominating indoor tennis this winter continued as Tsonga served up 10 aces and won 26 of 27 first serve points against an overpowered Mahut. “I managed a good start, which allowed me to stay quite relaxed about the whole game,” said Tsonga afterwards.
Tsonga, who converted on all three break points he saw today, has yet to lose in three matches against Mahut, though his first two affairs with his compatriot went the distance.
Tsonga will face No. 95-ranked and unseeded Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the quarterfinals.
The eight-time ATP singles title winner was also successful on the doubles court, pairing with Dustin Brown to defeat the German team of Marx and Moser in a match tiebreak, 7-6(4), 4-6, 10-6.
No. 3 seeded Janko Tipsarevic also advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Belgian qualifier David Goffin.
Elsewhere in Marseilles first round action, Alexandr Dolgopolov, making his first appearance in Marseilles, defeated Lukas Rosol in three sets, and Michael Llodra defeated Marco Chiudinelli in two.
Since the inaugural Open 13 in 1993, five Frenchman have won the singles title – including four in the last five years.