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10/25/09 9:35 PM | Ricky Dimon
The Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon begins on Monday, and the French fans will have real hopes of seeing one of their own take the title. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga headlines the field as the No. 1 seed and Gilles Simon is seeded second.
In four of the past nine installments--and two of the past three--of Lyon's Grand Prix de Tennis, a Frenchman has won the title. This week, the French fans will be expecting to crown one of their own for the fifth and final time in this decade.
That's because the top two seeds and clearly the two biggest threats to win the title are Frenchmen; Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon. Tsonga, ranked eighth in the world and seeded first in Lyon, has been in outstanding form and should be untroubled in the top half of the draw as he makes his way toward the final. His nearest seeded player is Benjamin Becker and the only semblance of danger would come in the semifinals in the form of third-seeded Ivan Ljubicic.
Simon, not as effective as Tsonga on indoor hard courts, faces a tougher path. The world No. 12 opens against Simone Bolelli, could go up against fellow Frenchman Julien Benneteau in the quarters, and is on a potential collision course with another countryman--Paul-Henri Mathieu--for the semis.
2007 Lyon champion Sebastien Grosjean, a relative stranger to the ATP Tour in the waning stages of his career, is back for another try. He will contest an interesting first-round match against fellow veteran Nicolas Kiefer as they try to turn back the clock. Another opening-round clash to watch is Frenchman Josselin Ouanna versus No. 4 seed Juan Monaco. Monaco--like No. 8 seed Albert Montanes--is much better on clay, so the big-hitting Ouanna should have an opportunity to make a nice run this week.
In addition to Grosjean, French title winners this decade in Lyon include Arnaud Clement (2000), Mathieu (2002), and Richard Gasquet (2006). Clement could run into Tsonga in this year's quarterfinals.
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+1
RickyDimon , 10/26/09 2:35 AM
+1???
so when's simon playing? he's gotta come back to the top 10
mriiidula , 10/26/09 2:26 PM
count me in! Allez Gilles!
jessica4stein , 10/26/09 3:58 PM
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go simon!!! =]
mriiidula , 10/26/09 2:05 AM