Tsonga, 36-Year-Old El Aynaoui Thrill at ATP Casablanca
Posted on May 19, 2008
The final week of tournament tune-ups before the French Open includes the Grand Prix Hassan II in Casablanca, Morocco, where Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael "Force" Monfils make their tournament debuts.
The oft-injured Tsonga has failed to reach a quarterfinal since his run at the Australian Open, and Monfils is a destitute 4-6 thus far on the season.
Other seeds are Argentine tournament debutante Agustin Calleri debut, last year's semifinalist Marc Gicquel, Julien Benneteau, big-serving Aussie debutante Chris Guccione, Florent Serra and Victor Hanescu.
In last year's final the No. 8-seeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu defeated unseeded Spaniard Albert Montanes 6-1, 6-1.
Homecountry favorite Younes El Aynaoui makes his 13th tournament appearance, with the 36-year-old attempting a return from a foot injury. In April the Moroccan reached the semifinals at the tour stop in Munich, losing to eventual champion Fernando Gonzalez in three sets.
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