By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, September 27, 2015
In an all-French final, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga hit 16 aces edging good friend Gilles Simon, 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-2, to win his third career Moselle Open title.
Photo credit: Arnaud Briand/Moselle Open
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga transformed the Moselle Open final into a search and rescue mission.
Searching for control of his forehand and control for the better part of an erratic two sets, Tsonga found them both delivering an explosive third set.
In an all-French final, Tsonga hit 16 aces edging good friend Gilles Simon, 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-2, to win his third career Moselle Open title.
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The match was a rematch of the 2013 Metz final, which Simon swept 6-4, 6-3. Simon was riding a 12-match Metz winning streak into the final, including 19 consecutive sets during that span.
The slender Frenchman outplayed Tsonga for much of the first two sets, but Tsonga began drilling his forehand with conviction in the decisive set when he delivered his boldest serving.
It is the 12th career title for Tsonga and it didn't come easily. He fought off seven of nine break points.
Tsonga is more powerful; Simon more precise. Simon's accuracy helped him earn six break points in Tsonga's first two service games.
An ability to slam an ace to stamp out break point is an asset not all big servers possess. Tsonga has it. In his second service game, Tsonga slid an ace out wide saving a fourth break point. It was the sixth break point Tsonga stared down to that point and the third time he responded by ripping an ace. Tsonga worked through a hard-fought hold for a 2-1 lead after 21 minutes.
The forehand failed Tsonga in the early stages of the opening set. Through five games he clanked 17 errors, 14 from the forehand side, yet hung tough through spotty patches with timely serving holding for 3-2. Tsonga slashed his eighth and ninth aces in succession holding at 15 for a 5-4 lead.
Stillness makes Simon an unsettling opponent. He looks like he's massaging the ball around the court, content to counter punch then he'll suddenly accelerate his swing, flatten out his shot and strike with surprising sting. A sharp forehand pass down the line helped Simon hold to force the tie break after 56 minutes.
Bending low to lash a forehand pass up the line, Simon had a 5-2 lead in the tie break. Tsonga unloaded winning five consecutive points to blast through the breaker. A forehand return winner down the line followed by a Simon forehand error gave Tsonga set point. Attacking behind an inside-out forehand, he snatched the set despite committing 21 more unforced errors (27 to 6) than Simon.
Swatting a forehand approach into net, Tsonga faced an eighth break point to start the second set. Tsonga had a play on a high backhand volley, but let the ball drop believing it would sail out. He was wrong, Simon's pass landed inside the baseline as he scored the first break of the day for 2-0.
Giving his opponent little pace to work with, Simon spread the court, changed direction effectively and gave an erratic Tsonga plenty of opportunity to continue scatter-shot play. He complied.
Completely losing the plot, Tsonga scattered his fourth double fault as Simon snatched a second straight break for a 4-0 advantage. Simon played much cleaner tennis: Tsonga had spit up 40 unforced errors compared to 16 for his opponent to that point. Simon served out the second set at love.
Fortune favored Tsonga in the fourth game of the final set. His shot dribbled off the top of the tape — the second time in the game he benefitted from a net cord — and when Simon's reply sailed he howled in frustration facing double break point. Tsonga hit a heavy forehand to break for a 3-1 lead. The 17th-ranked Frenchman consolidated with a quick love hold for 4-1. Snapping off his 16th ace down the middle, Tsonga extended the lead to 5-2.
Simon saved a championship point in the eighth game with an aggressive back hand into the corner. On the second championship point, Simon slapped a forehand swing volley off the top of the net. The ball sputtered wide of the sideline and Tsonga had his 12th career title.