Tsonga hammers Seppi to retain Metz title

Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga overpowered Italy’s Andreas Seppi yesterday to retain his title at the Metz Open and score crucial points in the race to the World Tour Finals. World number seven Tsonga, who currently occupies the eighth and last qualifying place for the London event in November, demolished the world No. 28 6-1, 6-2 in 50 minutes to clinch his second title this season after winning in Doha in January. The Frenchman relied on his powerful first serve and his trademark forehand to quash his opponent, who did not get any opportunity to break back. “I did great, it was good,” Tsonga told French channel Sport in a courtside interview. “I stayed focused all along, until the last second. I am very happy because it was the first time I have defended a title. I hope it will happen again,” Tsonga, who has now won nine ATP title in his career, added. Tsonga broke Seppi’s serve in the fourth game with a passing shot and wrap the first set in 22 minutes. Unlike his semi-final against Nikolay Davydenko, who made him work hard after a one-sided first set, Tsonga maintained his grip in the second set to quickly lead 4-0. He then held to his serve and claimed the victory on his first match point with a last forehand winner. Klizan triumphs In St. Petersburg, Russia, Martin Klizan of Slovakia defeated Fabio Fognini of Italy 6-2, 6-3 yesterday to win his first career ATP title at the St. Petersburg Open. The third-seeded Klizan broke the fourth-seeded Fognini twice in the first set and four times in the second, including in the final game when the left-handed Slovak hit a cross-court forehand winner to seal the victory. Klizan had used his only ace of the match to close out the first set. In the past seven months, the 23-year-old Slovak has moved up from No. 121 in the world to a career-high 45 in a breakthrough season that included reaching the fourth round of the US Open by beating No. 6-ranked Jo-Wilfred Tsonga. He reached the final in St. Petersburg by upsetting top-seeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in a three-set match that lasted nearly four hours on Saturday. After a short break, Klizan played a doubles semifinal, which he and his partner lost. “I was really dead yesterday after the match, but I played very solid this week and I’m very happy that I won this week,” Klizan said. “It’s my first title and I hope not last, and I hope I can make more points in the end of this season.” Klizan said he was serving better than on Saturday, when his back was giving him some trouble.The 25-year-old Fognini, ranked 53rd, was playing in his second ATP final after losing to Gilles Simon on clay in Bucharest earlier this season. In an error-filled performance on Sunday, he won only 40 percent of the points on his first serve, including 27 percent in the final set, compared to 68 percent for Klizan. “To play a final like this, it’s sorry, especially for me,” Fognini said. “I don’t play my best tennis for sure today.” Title for Wozniacki In Seoul, former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki dropped just one game against Kaia Kanepi in the lop-sided final of the Korea Open yesterday for her first WTA title of the year. The top-seeded Dane, currently ranked 11th, took just over an hour for a 6-1, 6-0 victory over the Estonian who had beaten her in the third round of French Open earlier this year. “I just want to build up for the next season. And it’s been a long season so I want to have a holiday and relax,” the 22-year-old told reporters after winning the 19th WTA title of her career. “I don’t think about ranking. I’m just happy I won the tournament. I would like to enjoy that. I want to be positive, and that’s what I’m thinking about right now.” From arabnews