Tsonga Wins 2nd Title in 2 Weeks, Beating Countryman Pouille at ATP Marseille

France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will return to the Top 10 on the ATP rankings after winning his second title in two weeks on Sunday at Marseille, defeating countryman Lucas Pouille 6-4, 6-4 for his home-country title at the Open 13.
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The 31-year-old won his third career Marseille crown for a 14th career title, and his second of 2017 after Rotterdam last week.

Tsonga improved to a 17-3 record on the season. He broke Pouille to start the match, and broke at 3-3 in the second set. The 23-year-old Pouille struggled on serve, and had little success making inroads on the Tsonga delivery, winning only 13 percent of his opponent’s service points.

In the semifinals Tsonga outlasted Australian Nick Kyrgios in three sets while Pouille beat his countryman Richard Gasquet in straight sets.

The afro-ed French No. 1 player is predicted to climb from 11 to No. 7 on the ATP rankings. Tsonga is now 14-11 in career finals and 2-0 in 2017, and Pouille drops to 1-2 in career finals, winning his lone title last year at Metz.