Michael Llodra won the singles and doubles titles at the Open 13. The singles champion scored his fourth-career singles title and second indoor title.

The French lefty lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga last year. By Friday, it looked like there would be a rematch. Eighth-seed Julien Benneteau instead broke that all up when he took out second-seed Tsonga in the semifinals on Saturday.

Today, Llodra upset the last remaining seed to take the French singles title. He secured the victory with a 6-3 6-4 win over Benneteau and denying the runner-up his first-career title. Don’t feel bad for the singles runner-up though.

As consolation, Benneteau teamed up later with the singles champion to help secure Llodra's third Marseille doubles title (2010, 2009, 2007). The tricolored duo upset top-seeds Julien Knowle and Robert Lindstedt 6-4 6-3. The doubles title is Llodra’s 18th and his second title with Benneteau. Benneteau now has six-career doubles titles of his own.

Championship Sunday
Singles Final
Michael Llodra (FRA) def. 8 Julien Benneteau (FRA) 6-3 6-4

Doubles Final
2 J. Benneteau (FRA)/M. Llodra (FRA) def. 1 J. Knowle (AUT)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) 6-4 6- 3

Saturday’s Matches
Singles Semifinals
Michael Llodra (FRA) def. Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-1 7-6(3)
8 Julien Benneteau (FRA) def. 2 Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (FRA) 7-6 (11) 5-7 7-6(3)

Doubles Semifinals
2 J. Benneteau (FRA)/M. Llodra (FRA) def. A. Clement (FRA)/N. Mahut (FRA) 7-6(0) 6-4

(Image: Yohan Brandt/Open 13)

Michael Llodra sure loves this tournament. Last year’s singles finalist and doubles champion took down top-seed Robin Soderling. The Swede can ratchet his play up at times, but today Llodra took it up a notch to surpass Soderling 7-6(2) 6-4.

The Frenchman will back on double duty tomorrow with singles and doubles tomorrow. He will play his former partner Arnaud Clement, with whom he won this title twice, for the last spot in the final in the battle of the exes.

In his singles semifinal, he will meet German Mischa Zverev. Llodra leads their head-to-head 2-0.


Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
Michael Llodra (FRA) def. 1 Robin Soderling (SWE) 7-6(2) 6-4
2 Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (FRA) def. LL Illya Marchenko (UKR) 6-3 6-4
8 Julien Benneteau (FRA) def. 3 Gael Monfils (FRA) 6-3 7-5
Mischa Zverev (GER) def. WC Guillaume Rufin (FRA) 7-5 6-7(4) 6-3

Doubles Semifinals
1 J. Knowle (AUT)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. R. Bopanna (IND)/J. Coetzee (RSA) 6-4 0-6 10-6

Saturday’s Matches
Singles Semifinals
Michael Llodra (FRA) vs. Mischa Zverev (GER)
2 Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (FRA) vs. 8 Julien Benneteau (FRA)

Doubles Semifinals
2 J. Benneteau (FRA)/M. Llodra (FRA) vs. A. Clement (FRA)/N. Mahut (FRA)

Saturday’s Order of Play

(Image: AP)

Thursday’s Results
Singles Second Round
1 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4
3 Gael Monfils (FRA) def. Andreas Seppi (ITA) 7-6(4) 3-6 7-6(3)
LL Illya Marchenko (UKR) def. Olivier Rochus (BEL) 6-1 3-6 6-2
WC Guillaume Rufin (FRA) def. Q Yannick Mertens (BEL) 6-3 2-6 6-2

Doubles Quarterfinals
1 J. Knowle (AUT)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. S. Ratiwatana (THA)/S. Ratiwatana (THA) 6-4 7-6(9)
R. Bopanna (IND)/J. Coetzee (RSA) def. 3 M. Lopez (ESP)/T. Robredo (ESP) 4-6 6-1 21-19

Friday’s Order of Play

Michael Llodra was a double winner today. First, he upset seventh-seed Marcos Baghdatis in straight sets in singles. He now awaits the winner of the Soderling-Stakhovsky match for a quarterfinal matchup.

Later on in the day, he beat Sergiy Stakhovsky and Rogier Wassen with partner Julien Benneteau in doubles. The Frenchman is trying to defend his doubles title with a different partner. They will next meet play the person he won the title with last year, Arnaud Clement, who is now paired with Nicolas Mahut, in the semifinals.

Not a bad day’s worth of work for Monsieur Llodra.

Preview:
City: Marseille, France

Surface: Indoor Hard
 Championship Points: 250

2009 Singles Champion: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
2009 Doubles Champion: Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra
Draws: Singles | Doubles

Wednesday’s Results
Singles First Round

WC Guillaume Rufin (FRA) def. LL Laurent Recouderc (FRA) 7-5 4-6 7-6(2)
Q Yannick Mertens (BEL) def. Jan Hajek (CZE) 7-6(8) 6-1

Singles Second Round

2 Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (FRA) def. LL Joanna Ouanna (FRA) 7-6(9) 6-4 

Mischa Zverev (GER) def. 4 Tommy Robredo (ESP) 6-2 3-6 6-1

Michael Llodra (FRA) def. 7 Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 7-6(6) 6-4

8 Julien Benneteau (FRA) def. Florent Serra (FRA) 6-4 6-4

Doubles First Round

R. Bopanna (IND)/J. Coetzee (RSA) def. C. Rochus (BEL)/O. Rochus (BEL) 6-2 6-1

Doubles Quarterfinals

2 J. Benneteau (FRA)/M. Llodra (FRA) def. S. Stakhovsky (UKR)/R. Wassen (NED) 6-2 6-2

A. Clement (FRA)/N. Mahut (FRA) def. R. de Voest (RSA)/A. Qureshi (PAK) 6-3 7-5

Thursday’s Order of Play

(Image: EQ)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won his second title in three weeks. Two weeks ago, it was the South African Open, and today it is the Open 13 in Marseille, France. He beat countryman Michael Llodra 7-5 7-6(3) in front of a hyped-up French crowd.

Yesterday, Llodra gave Gilles Simon trouble with his serve and volleying. Tsonga was bothered by it early in the match but then started to pass Llodra to put his compatriot on his heels late in the first set. In the second set, he began to crank his serve for 8 aces (11 for the match). Tsonga then took over in the tiebreak to best Llodra for the match.



All was not lost for Michael Llodra. He and Arnaud Clement won the doubles title by upsetting top seeds Knowle and Ram 3-6 6-3 10-8 in 73 minutes of work. This win gives the French duo their seventh ATP title together.

(Open 13, Panoramic)

Open 13

The French are excited this weekend. There will be an all-French singles final. Frenchies Clement and Llodra advanced to the doubles final. Michael Llodra was also a double winner today.

Match Results:
Singles Semifinals
4 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. 1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6-4 7-6(1)
Michael Llodra (FRA) def. 2 Gilles Simon (FRA) 7-6(5) 6-2

Doubles Semifinals
A. Clement (FRA)/M. Llodra (FRA) def. 4 S. Huss (AUS)/R. Hutchins (GBR) 6-2 7-6(2)

Sunday's Matches:
Singles Championship
4 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) vs. Michael Llodra (FRA)

Doubles Championship
1 J. Knowle (AUT)/A. Ram (ISR) vs. A. Clement (FRA)/M. Llodra (FRA)

Watch Live

I guess Michael Llodra is all about Marseille this year. Michael Llodra today upset second seed Gilles Simon in straight sets 7-6(5) 6-2 in 76 minutes. He will also play later in the doubles semifinals with partner, Arnaud Clement to book the last spot against top seeds Knowle and Ram in the doubles final.

Llodra’s singles match against Simon was close in the first set. There were no breaks, but he was able to sneak off with the first set in the tiebreaker. The second set was not as close, and Simon seemed completely out of sorts. He was not able to handle Llodra’s lefty serve and could not seem to find an answer for Llodra’s serve and volleying. By the end of the set, Simon had completely unraveled and could only seem to find the outer boundaries of the court.

Llodra played solidly today and has booked the last spot in the finals against compatriot, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The two players have never played in an ATP or Grand Slam event. This will be Tsonga’s second final in three weeks. The final should be fun to watch.

(image: Open 13)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga dialed Novak Djokovic’s number again today in Marseille. The Frenchman sent the ATP World No. 3 packing in straight sets 6-4 7-6(1) in an 85 minute match. Both players served well, but Tsonga took care of his serve slightly better by winning 81% of his first serve points. Tsonga’s groundstrokes were too much for Djokovic because Tsonga lit up the lines for winners the entire match.

This victory marks Frenchman’s fourth-straight win over Djokovic and guarantees an all-French final tomorrow. Tsonga is awaiting the winner of the Simon-Llodra match. Whoever wins, the French are ecstatic this weekend.

(image: Panoramic)

Open 13

Gilles Simon had no problems dismissing countryman, Julien Benneteau in straight sets. The entire match took 79 minutes to complete. He will play another countryman, Michael Llodra in the semifinals.


AP (both images)

Micheal Llodra defeated Mikhail Youzhny in two straight-set tiebreaks. Llodra did a good job of taking care of his serve by saving 8 of 9 break points. There were no breaks in the first set, and the two traded breaks in the second. Youzhny's second serve provided the difference in the match, and Llodra took advantage.

Llodra had a great day today because he also advanced into the doubles semifinals with partner, Arnaud Clement. He will play Gilles Simon in the singles semifinals, where he leads their head-to-head 2-0. His last win over Simon came in January 2008 in Adelaide but before Simon broke through last year, by winning three titles and making it the final in Madrid.


AP

After 68 minutes of work, Novak Djokovic had an easy win over German Mischa Zverev in straight sets. The top seed has quietly taken care of business this tournament, his first since his controversial Australian Open retirement in the quarterfinals.


AP

After winning his first two matches of the season in Marseille, Feliciano Lopez played a respectable match. He took Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to three sets.


AP

In the end, Tsonga overpowered the Spanish lefty. After serving 18 aces and never facing break point, Tsonga pushed Lopez aside. He will face Novak Djokovic next in the semis. Tsonga has had the Serb's number of late, where he has won their last three meetings, but the Serb's only win over the Frenchman came during the 2008 Australian Open championship.

Singles Quarterfinals:
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-3 6-3
2 Gilles Simon (FRA) def. Julien Benneteau (FRA) 6-2 6-4
4 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. 8 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-2 6-7(1) 6-4
Michael Llodra (FRA) def. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 7-6(4) 7-6(3)

Doubles Semifinals:
1 J. Knowle (AUT)/A. Ram (ISR) def. T. Berdych (CZE)/J. Hernych (CZE) 7-6(5) 6-2

Doubles Quarterfinals:
A. Clement (FRA)/M. Llodra (FRA) def. W. Moodie (RSA)/D. Norman (BEL) 6-4 7-6(1)

Saturday’s Matches: (Listed in order of play)
Play begins 8:00 AM EST
Singles Semifinals:
1 Novak Djokovic vs.4 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
2 Gilles Simon vs. Michael Llodra

Doubles Semifinals:
4 S. Huss /R. Hutchins vs. A. Clement /M. Llodra

Watch Live

Panoramic

France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga cruised into the quarterfinals with his win over Simone Bolleli of Italy in straight sets. He will face Feliciano Lopez in the quarterfinals. Tsonga currently leads Lopez 1-0 in head-to-head action.


Panoramic

The second musketeer, Gilles Simon had a more challenging time reaching the quarterfinals. He would eventually win 6-4 4-6 6-2 over German Rainer Schuettler. Simon was fine until his serve failed him in the second set, where Schuettler broke him four times. The Frenchmen managed to take care of his serve in the third set and broke Schuettler twice to secure the victory.

He will face off against fellow countryman, Julien Benneteau. They are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head. Simon won their last meeting on clay in Casablanca.


AP Photo/Claude Paris

Lastly, Novak Djokavic beat Czech Jan Hernych 6-4 7-5 in a 92 minute match. He will play Zverev of Germany in the next round.

Singles Round of 16:
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Jan Hernych (CZE) 7-5 6-4
2 Gilles Simon (FRA) vs. Rainer Schuettler (GER) 6-4 4-6 6-2
4 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) vs. Simone Bolelli (ITA) 6-3 6-2
Julien Benneteau (FRA) def. George Bastl (SUI) 6-1 2-6 6-1
Michael Llodra (FRA) def. Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) 6-3 7-6

Doubles Quarterfinals:
1 J. Knowle (AUT)/A. Ram (ISR) def. M. Youzhny (RUS)/M. Zverev (GER) 6-3 6-4
4 S. Huss (AUS)/R. Hutchins (GBR) def. C. Kas (GER)/R. Schuettler (GER) 6-1 7-6(4)
wc J. Benneteau (FRA)/F. Santoro (FRA) def. T. Berdych (CZE)/J. Hernych (CZE) 6-3 6-3

Friday's Matches:

Singles Quarterfinals:
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Mischa Zverev (GER)
2 Gilles Simon (FRA) vs. Julien Benneteau (FRA)
4 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) vs. 8 Feliciano Lopez (ESP)
Michael Llodra (FRA) vs. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)

Doubles Semifinals:
1 J. Knowle (AUT)/A. Ram (ISR) vs.T. Berdych (CZE)/J. Hernych (CZE)

Doubles Quarterfinals:
W. Moodie (RSA)/D. Norman (BEL) vs. A. Clement (FRA)/M. Llodra (FRA)

Watch Live

Singles Round of 16:
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Jan Hernych (CZE)
2 Gilles Simon (FRA) vs. Rainer Schuettler (GER)
4 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) vs. Simone Bolelli (ITA)
LL George Bastl (SUI) vs. Julien Benneteau (FRA)
Michael Llodra (FRA) vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA)

Doubles Quarterfinals:
1 J. Knowle (AUT)/A. Ram (ISR) vs. M. Youzhny (RUS)/M. Zverev (GER)
4 S. Huss (AUS)/R. Hutchins (GBR) vs. C. Kas (GER)/R. Schuettler (GER)
wc J. Benneteau (FRA)/F. Santoro (FRA) vs. T. Berdych (CZE)/J. Hernych (CZE)

Singles Round of 32:
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 7-6(4) 6-4
Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) def. Gael Monfils 4-6 6-4 7-5
4 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 7-6(5) 6-2
LL George Bastl (SUI) def. Marc Gicquel (FRA) 6-4 6-3
Michael Llodra (FRA) def. LL Rik de Voest (RSA) 7-6(2) 6-1

Singles Round of 16:
8 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) 7-6(4) 7-6(1)
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Andreas Seppi (ITA) 7-6(2) 6-3
Mischa Zverev (GER) def. Arnaud Clement (FRA) 6-4 5-7 6-2

Doubles Round of 16:
wc J. Benneteau (FRA)/F. Santoro (FRA) def. 3 S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Vizner (CZE) 6-4 7-5
4 S. Huss (AUS)/R. Hutchins (GBR) vs. S. Bolelli (ITA)/A. Seppi (ITA) 6-3 6-4
C. Kas(GER)/R. Schuettler (GER) vs. N. Mahut (FRA)/G. Simon (FRA) 6-7(5) 7-6(8) 12-10

Singles Round of 32:
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Jeremy Chardy (FRA)
3 Gael Monfils (FRA) vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA)
4 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) vs. Andrey Golubev (KAZ)
LL George Bastl (SUI) vs Marc Gicquel (FRA)
LL Rik de Voest (RSA) vs. Michael Llodra (FRA)

Singles Round of 16:
8 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) vs. Dmitry Tursunov (RUS)
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) vs. Andreas Seppi (ITA)
Mischa Zverev (GER) vs. Arnaud Clement (FRA)

Doubles Round of 16:
3 S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Vizner (CZE) vs. wc J. Benneteau (FRA)/F. Santoro (FRA)
4 S. Huss (AUS)/R. Hutchins (GBR) vs. S. Bolelli (ITA)/A. Seppi (ITA)
C. Kas(GER)/R. Schuettler (GER) vs. N. Mahut (FRA)/G. Simon (FRA)

Order of Play

Watch Live

Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria was trouble for Rafael Nadal last week in Rotterdam, and he was surely trouble for second-seed Gilles Simon today. The 17 year-old really took it to Simon and had the Frenchman on his heals the entire match. Eventually, the Bulgarian served for the match at 5-3 in the third set. Simon managed to break him and then rallied to win the next three games to win the match.

Simon will play German Rainer Schuettler next, and his side of the draw has opened up since Richard Gasquet pulled out of the tournament. He biggest challenge could be Gael Monfils in the semifinals if there are no surprises in their part of the draw. (Image: Open 13)


The Sofia Echo

For Dimitrov, it was another good showing in two weeks, and it will be only a matter of time until he pulls off the upset. The up-and-comer is already being touted as better than Federer when Federer was his age by Peter Lundgren, Federer’s old coach. We will see about that, but it looks like Dimitrov is on the verge of doing some damage this year, which should be fun to watch.


Panoramic

Frenchman Arnaud Clement upset seven-seed Marat Safin of Russia in a three set match that clocked in just under two hours. It looked like Safin was going to cruise to victory, but Clement stuck with the Russian to break him the second set. He took control of the match as Safin started to make more unforced errors and broke the Russian twice in the third set. Clement will play Mischa Zverev of Germany in the second round.


Imago

Singles Round of 32:
2 Gilles Simon (FRA) def. wc Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 4-6 6-3 7-5
Arnaud Clement (FRA) def. 7 Marat Safin (RUS) 4-6 6-3 6-2
Mischa Zverev (GER) def. Q Ilia Marchenko (UKR) 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4
Rainer Schuettler (GER) def. Q Laurent Recouderc (FRA) 6-1 6-4
Simone Bolelli (ITA) def. Q Richard Bloomfield (GBR) 7-6(5) 7-6(1)
Andreas Seppi (ITA) def. Q Jerzy Janowicz (POL) 7-6(5) 3-6 7-6(3)
Julien Benneteau (FRA) def. Fabrice Santoro (FRA) 4-6 6-4 6-2

Doubles Round of 16:
1 J. Knowle (AUT)/A. Ram (ISR) def. R. de Voest (RSA)/R. Wassen (NED) 7-6(7) 7-6(2)
M. Gicquel (FRA)/P-H.Mathieu (FRA) def. M. Youzhny (RUS)/M. Zverev (GER) 6-4 6-2
T. Berdych (VZE)/J. Hernych (CZE) vs. wc S. de Chaunac (FRA)/D. Guez (FRA) 6-2-7-5

Singles Round of 32:
2 Gilles Simon (FRA) vs. wc Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)
7 Marat Safin (RUS) vs. Arnaud Clement (FRA)
Mischa Zverev (GER) vs. Q Ilia Marchenko (UKR)
Q Laurent Recouderc (FRA) vs. Rainer Schuettler (GER)
Simone Bolelli (ITA) vs. Q Richard Bloomfield (GBR)
Q Jerzy Janowicz (POL) vs. Andreas Seppi (ITA)
Fabrice Santoro (FRA) vs. Julien Benneteau (FRA)

Doubles Round of 16:
1 J. Knowle (AUT)/A. Ram (ISR) vs. R. de Voest (RSA)/R. Wassen (NED)
M. Gicquel (FRA)/P-H.Mathieu (FRA) vs. M. Youzhny (RUS)/M. Zverev (GER)
T. Berdych(VZE)/J. Hernych (CZE)vs. wc S. de Chaunac (FRA)/D. Guez (FRA)

Open 13

Dimitry Tursunov of Russia defeated countryman Teimuraz Gabashvili in three sets. Tursunov lost the first set because Gabashvili broke him three times. In the last two sets, the Tursunov was able to hold on to his serve and ended up breaking Gabashvili four times. Tursunov now will meet Feliciano Lopez of Spain in the next round and currently leads the Spaniard 2-1 in their head-to-head.


Open 13

French doubles duo, Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra upset no. 2 seeds Michael Damm and Robert Lindstedt in a three set match. The Frenchmen will go on to play Wesley Moodie and Dick Norman in the next round.


Panoramic

Richard Gasquet withdrew from the tournament because of a shoulder injury. George Bastl of Switzerland has taken his place in the draw.

Singles Round of 32:
Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) def. Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 3-6 6-2 6-2
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. 5 Tomas Berdych (CZE) 6-4 6(2)-7 6-1 8
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 3-6 6-4 7-5
Jan Hernych (CZE) def. Kristof Vliegen (BEL) 6-3 3-6 6-4

Doubles Round of 16:
A. Clement (FRA)/M. Llodra (FRA) def. 2 M. Damm (CZE)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) 7-6(5) 6(7)-7 10-3
W. Moodie (RSA)/D. Norman (BEL) def. J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J. J. Rojer (NED) 7-6(5) 6-2

City: Marseille, France
Surface: Indoor Hard
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Andy Murray
2008 Doubles Champions: Damm/Vizner


Open 13

Defending champion, Andy Murray pulled out of the tournament due to an ankle injury. This leaves Novak Djokovic, the top seed and eleven other French players to battle it out. Tomas Berdych, Marat Safin and Feliciano Lopez round out the other top seeds.

Gilles Simon, the top-ranked Frenchmen and the 2007 champion, is seated number two. He draws Grigor Dimitrov in the first round. The young Bulgarian gave Rafael Nadal some trouble in Rotterdam. If Simon beats Dimitrov, he could eventually meet Gasquet in the quarterfinals. Gasquet currently leads their head-to-head 5-0.

On the other side of the draw, Djokovic will have an easier draw but could meet Safin in the quarterfinals. He may find himself in trouble if Safin is on the top of his game, like last year at Wimbledon. Should Djokovic make it to the semifinals, he could possibly meet Frenchmen, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Tsonga leads their head-to-head 3-1 and has won their last three meetings.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

Monday's Matches:
Singles Round of 32:
5 Tomas Berdych (CZE) vs. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)
8 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) vs. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)
Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) vs. Dmitry Tursunov (RUS)
Jan Hernych (CZE) vs. Kristof Vliegen (BEL)

Doubles Round of 16:
2 M. Damm (CZE) /R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. A. Clement (FRA) /M. Llodra (FRA)
W. Moodie (RSA) /D. Norman (BEL) vs.J. Brunstrom (SWE) /J. J. Rojer (NED)

Monday's Order of Play