In a meeting of former finalists, 2014 runner-up Milos Raonic outlasted 2008 champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 7-6(5) at the Rolex Paris Masters on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old Canadian, who defeated Roger Federer en route to the 2014 championship match, fired 23 aces and won 89 per cent of first-serve points to progress after two hours and 53 minutes. Now 32-15 at tour-level in 2018, Raonic has earned 30 or more victories in seven of his past eight seasons (2011-16, 2018).
In a repeat of this year's MercedesCup final, Raonic will meet Federer for a place in the third round. This week, Federer is chasing his 100th tour-level trophy after lifting his ninth Swiss Indoors Basel crown last week (d. Copil).
Gilles Simon defeated countryman Lucas Pouille, for the third time in four FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings, 6-3, 6-4 to book a second-round meeting with sixth-seeded Dominic Thiem. The 2012 semi-finalist (l. to Janowicz), who has lifted trophies in Pune and Metz this season, won 76 per cent of service points to improve to 33-22 at tour-level in 2018.
Erste Bank Open 500 semi-finalist Mikhail Kukushkin continued his recent run of form, defeating Pierre-Hugues Herbert 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. The 30-year-old Kazakh saved 10 of 14 break points to advance after two hours and 17 minutes and will meet Nitto ATP Finals contender John Isner for a place in the third round.
Last year's quarter-finalist Fernando Verdasco beat Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-4. The Spaniard will next meet countryman Rafael Nadal for the 20th time in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series (3-16).
Did You Know?
This is the first week since October 2006 to feature no Frenchmen inside the Top 25 of the ATP Rankings. French No. 1 Richard Gasquet, who lifted his 15th tour-level trophy at the Libema Open in June, is currently ranked No. 28.
from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/2ql1qca
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