TENNIS NEWS • DEL POTRO, TSONGA WIN SEMIFINAL MATCHES, REMAIN IN CONTENTION FOR NITTO ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS

Written by: Staff on 28th October 2017

TENNIS NEWS • DEL POTRO, TSONGA WIN SEMIFINAL MATCHES, REMAIN IN CONTENTION FOR NITTO ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS

epa06295498 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France returns to Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during their semi final match of the Erste Bank Open ATP tennis tournament in Vienna, Austria, 28 October 2017. EPA-EFE/LISI NIESNER |

By Ricky Dimon

All they do is win.

Juan Martin Del Potro and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are both one victory away from titles in back-to-back weeks after they prevailed in respective semifinal matches in Basel and Vienna on Saturday afternoon. Del Potro defeated Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4 at the Swiss Indoors Basel, while Tsonga took care of Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6(4), 7-5 at the Erste Bank Open.

The 19th-ranked Argentine benefited from a terrible serving performance by Cilic, who put in a mere 42 percent of his first serves and double-faulted four times. That led to a total of four breaks for Del Potro, who advanced after one hour and 37 minutes.

“I played a good match,” the No. 4 seed commented. “Always to beat Cilic you must play at a high level. I’m happy that I did well and reached another final here in Basel.”

Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro in action against Croatia’s Marin Cilic during their semifinal match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 28 October 2017. EPA-EFE/ALEXANDRA WEY

Next up for Del Potro is Roger Federer, who trounced David Goffin 6-1, 6-2 in exactly one hour.

“I think I will be in good shape for tomorrow,” Del Potro added. “I’m so excited to play the final. For me it’s going to be a great challenge and also a great pleasure to play against Roger again in his hometown. It will be a great atmosphere, and I will enjoy it a lot.”

It will be an all-French title match in Vienna, as Lucas Pouille joined Tsonga in the winner’s circle. Both Pouille and Tsonga may be in line to be selected for the upcoming Davis Cup final against Belgium, but Tsonga should also have the World Tour Finals on his mind. The recent Stockholm champion could climb as high as No. 9 in the race (among active players) if he triumphs on Sunday.

Tsonga fired 19 aces past Kohlschreiber while prevailing in one hour and 47 minutes.