By Chris Oddo | Sunday, February 23, 2014

 

Ernests Gulbis improved his record in ATP finals to 5-0, serving his way to a 7-6(5), 6-4 victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Marseille on Sunday.

Photo Source: AP

Ernests Gulbis may be flawed in more than a few ways, but when it comes to ATP tour-level finals, the man is perfect.

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Gulbis notched his fifth title in five career finals on Sunday in Marseille, bringing forth another serving performance for the ages to topple Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 7-6(5), 6-4.

"He was strong," Tsonga said."He served very well, took a lot of risks, played a lot lines and did not give a lot of points... so, no, nothing to regret."

Just like his compatriot Richard Gasquet, who claimed to feel helpless against Gulbis in Saturday's semifinal, there was very little for Tsonga to regret in this match.

It was a banner weekend from the service stripe in Marseille, as the Latvian pumped in 38 aces in his final three matches and lost only 11 points on his first serve from the quarterfinals on.

Gulbis was pressured a bit by the defending champion Tsonga on Sunday, but big serving helped the world No. 23 out of trouble each time, as he saved both break points he faced.

After failing to convert on three break points in the first set, Gulbis took the first set in a tiebreaker.

In the second set Gulbis broke for a 2-1 lead and fought off a Tsonga break point opportunity with more big serving in the eighth game that had the Frenchman muttering to himself in angry fashion.

Two games later, Gulbis, who struck 41 winners on the day to 22 for Tsonga, would serve the match out to love, clinching it when a Tsonga forehand sank into the net on match point.

Gulbis' remarkable rise in the rankings continues. The 25-year-old was at No. 118 in the world just over a year ago, and with today's title he is expected to crack the top 20 for the first time in his career.

Gulbis' back-to-back top 10 scalps in Marseille improve his record to 3-2 against the top 10 for 2014, and 14-38 for his career.