Kyrgios edges closer to another Marseille title

MARSEILLE: Nick Kyrgios (pic) kept on course to defend his Marseille Open title with a 6-3, 6-3 quarter-final victory over Slovak qualifier Norbert Gombos.

But he will have to overcome two home players if he is to retain his crown.

The 21-year-old Australian fired down 15 aces and lost just six points on serve in a ruthless display that lasted less than an hour on Friday.

In the semi-final he will face Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who thumped compatriot Gilles Simon 6-4, 6-1.

And if the third seed wins that, Kyrgios will also face a Frenchman in the final.

“I thought I served and returned really well today,” said Kyrgios. “All that matters is that I’m going out there and playing every point hard.

I think I’m pretty aggressive on my returns, particularly here where I’m trying to get in the first big hit.”

Second seed Tsonga came through a quarter-final between two twice former winners thanks to converting four of seven break points.

The 31-year-old, on a seven-match winning streak, is bidding to win a second tournament in successive weeks after triumphing in Rotterdam last week.

Sixth seed Richard Gasquet overcame top seed Gael Monfils in an all-French quarter-final 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-2.

He will play another compatriot next in fourth seed Lucas Pouille after the latter defeated Russian Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. — AFP