By Chris Oddo | Saturday, February 22, 2014

 

Ernests Gulbis crashed the French party on Saturday in Marseille, downing Richard Gasquet, 6-3, 6-2, to set up a final with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Ernests Gulbis continues to inch closer to the ATP's top 20. The current World No. 23 put forth an imposing serving display in Saturday's Open 13 semifinal in Marseille, gunning down top seed Richard Gasquet, 6-3, 6-2, in one hour and four minutes.

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Gulbis pumped 15 aces past Gasquet and won 30 of 32 first-serve points while not facing a break point in nine service games.

The high-octane serving display left the top-seeded Frenchman puzzled to say the least.

“Helpless,” Gasquet said. “That's the word.”

"Today, everything was working: serve, backhand,” said Gulbis, who had never been past the second round in Marseille in two previous appearances at the event.

The Latvian has lost only five first-serve points in his last two matches, and will bid for his fifth career title on Sunday against hometown favorite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Gulbis has gone undefeated in four previous tour-level finals.

Tsonga was made to work harder and longer than Gulbis on Saturday, but the defending champion and second seed fought past an inspired performance from German Jan-Lennard Struff to win, 7-6(4), 7-5.

Tsonga, who won the title in Marseille in 2009 and 2013, is into his first final of 2014. The Frenchman will bid for his 11th career title on Sunday.