• ATP Tour

Del Potro downs Tsonga to reach Marseille final

ESPN staff
February 25, 2012
Juan Martin del Potro is through to his second successive final © Getty Images
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Juan Martin del Potro got the better of home favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to book his place in the Open 13 final in Marseille.

The former US Open champion, who was beaten by Roger Federer in the Rotterdam final last week, reached his second straight final with a 6-4 6-7(9) 6-3 victory on Saturday.

Tsonga saved match point in a dramatic second set, before forcing the match to a decider. However, Del Potro grabbed an early break in the third and never looked back as he wrapped up a hard-fought victory in two hours and 49 minutes.

The world No. 10 continues his ascent up the rankings following a nasty wrist injury in 2010, and he will look to scoop his first title of 2012 on Sunday. Standing in his way is another Frenchman, Michael Llodra, who beat third seed Janko Tipsarevic 6-4 7-6(10). Llodra, the 2010 champion, has won 15 of his past 17 matches in Marseille but has never beaten Del Potro in three previous meetings.

Meanwhile, at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis, Jurgen Melzer won an entertaining clash against Radek Stepanek to book his place in Sunday's final, where he will meet last year's runner-up Milos Raonic, who beat Benjamin Becker 6-4 6-4.

At the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club for the Copa Claro event, top seed David Ferrer moved through to the final after defeating David Nalbandian 6-1 6-4. Ferrer will meet second seed Nicolas Almagro in the decider after he proved too strong for Stanislas Wawrinka in the other semi-final.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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