All-French final in Lyon

Marc Giquel and Sebastien Grosjean ensured a French winner of the Lyon Open after claiming contrasting victories on Saturday.

Marc Giquel and Sebastien Grosjean ensured there will be a French winner of the Lyon Open after claiming contrasting victories on Saturday. Giquel, seeking a first ATP Tour title, saved two match points on the way to a tense 4-6 6-2 7-6 victory over Alejandro Falla, while veteran Grosjean thrashed compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1 6-2. Gicquel got off to a sluggish start, dropping his serve in the seventh game to let Falla, the world number 128, clinch the opening set. However, the 30-year-old broke twice in the second to level the tie and both players held serve in the decider. Gicquel saved a first match point with a stunning cross-court pass and got back into the match when Falla, who knocked out fifth-seeded Ivan Ljubicic on Friday, netted an easy forehand. The Frenchman eventually clinched the tiebreak 9-7 to win the match after two hours and four minutes. "I am delighted. I always play spectacular matches here,"said Gicquel. "Having another all-French final is great for this tournament." Grosjean simply had too much experience for his young opponent, who succumbed in just 53 minutes. "I have never played four matches in row like that in Lyon," he said. It's been a long time since I have played in a final and one in France, it's great. "I knew that that Jo was playing his first semi-final in the major ATP circuit. I had to hold and be aggressive from the start. He tensed up."