Tsonga, Llodra reach semifinals in Marseille

MARSEILLE, France (AP)â€"Jo-Wilfried Tsonga edged Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-4, 7-5 Friday to reach the semifinals of the Open 13.
 
Tsonga had 14 aces and saved 10 break points in an all-French match.

The top-seeded Tsonga dropped serve in the opening game but broke back in the sixth. He hit 18 winners to 11 for Roger-Vasselin to take the first set when his opponent netted a forehand volley.
 
Roger-Vasselin double-faulted at 6-5 in the next set to give Tsonga two match points. Tsonga converted the first on a forehand error.
 
“I didn’t play better than him today,” said Tsonga, the 2009 champion. “But I was stronger in my head in the key moments.”
 
Albano Olivetti lost to Michael Llodra 7-6 (5), 7-5 in another all-French quarterfinal, but has still left an impression on the home crowd after beating Mardy Fish on Thursday.
 
Llodra outslugged Olivetti with 14 aces to 13 on Friday, and did not face a break point.
 
“Michael served smartly,” Olivetti said. “He used very well the slice when serving to my backhand. He was also stronger than me on service returns.”
 
Olivetti netted a backhand volley at 5-5 to drop serve and Llodra converted his first match point with an ace.