By Tennis Now | Saturday, October 28, 2017
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga hit his 19th ace closing a 7-6 (4), 7-5 victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber to set up an all-French Vienna final vs. Lucas Pouille.
Photo credit: Erste Bank Open Vienna Facebook
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga sealed an all-French final in style.
Tsonga seared his 19th ace down the middle closing a 7-6 (4), 7-5 victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber to secure his spot in the Vienna final—and keep his hopes alive for the ATP World Tour Finals.
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The eighth-seeded Tsonga will face French Davis Cup teammate Lucas Pouille in tomorrow’s all-French final. Tsonga has won both prior meetings with Paire—sweeping all four sets by identical 6-4 scores, including a straight-sets win in the Marseille final earlier this season.
Tsonga won 38 of 41 points played on his first serve and faced only two break points in the one hour, 45-minute triumph. The 15th-ranked Tsonga pumped an ace out wide leveling for 5-all in the second set.
A pair of forcing forehands followed by a stray forehand from the German brought Tsonga to triple break point in the 11th game.
Reading a second serve down the middle, Tsonga pounced and pounded a forehand return down the line sealing his second break at love for 6-5.
Sliding an ace wide, Tsonga earned triple match point.
On his second match point, Tsonga smacked an ace down the middle sealing his spot in his fifth final of the season and raising his record against Kohlschreiber to 11-1.
Pouille rallied from a one-set deficit conquering Kyle Edmund, 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-3 in two hours, 17 minutes.
The 25th-ranked Pouille reached his sixth career final, including his fourth of 2017.
The man for all surfaces, who has already won a grass court title in Stuttgart and clay-court crown in Budapest, is aiming for this third title of the year on a third different surface.
Edmund saved two set points to take the tie break. The 63rd-ranked Briton was one set from his first career ATP final.
Pouille did not let him get closer. The Frenchman broke to start the second set and made it stand to level. Pouille broke twice in the third set to secure his spot in the final.