Defending champion Nick Kyrgios cruised into the semi-finals of the Open 13 Marseille on Friday, dismissing Slovakian qualifier Norbert Gombos 6-3, 6-3.

The 21-year-old Australian captured his first ATP World Tour title in Marseille 12 months ago, defeating Marin Cilic in the final. Later in the year he added to his title haul at the BB&T Atlanta Open (d. Isner) and the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo (d. Goffin).

Kyrgios booked his spot in the last four at this ATP World Tour 250 tournament in just 58 minutes. The third seed fired 15 aces and lost just six points on serve in a dominant display. He goes on to face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for the first time.

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“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.”

In an all-French quarter-final, Tsonga overcame two-time former champion Gilles Simon 6-4, 6-1 in 75 minutes. It was the pair’s 11th meeting, with Tsonga improving to an 8-3 mark in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series as he converted four of his seven break points and won 74 per cent of his service points.

Tsonga has also won the Marseille trophy twice before, triumphing in 2009 (d. Llodra) and 2013 (d. Berdych). The 31 year old is on a seven-match winning streak and is bidding to win his second ATP World Tour title in as many weeks after ending a 17-month title drought last week at the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam (d. Goffin).

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Frenchman Lucas Pouille booked a maiden Open 13 Marseille semi-final after a fighting 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over #NextGenATP player Daniil Medvedev.

The Russian claimed a single break to take the first set. However, fourth seed Pouille surged 4-0 ahead with ferocious shot making to level the match. The duo was locked on serve in the decider until the ninth game, when on a third break point Pouille hooked a forehand passing shot down the line to clinch the pivotal break.

The World No. 17 will now face sixth seed Richard Gasquet, who came on top in his latest battle with top seed and fellow Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-2. The pair have played 13 times, with Gasquet improving to 6-7 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry.

Pouille and Gasquet are even in their FedEx ATP Head2Head at 1-1. Pouille is into his first ATP World Tour semi-final of 2017, while Gasquet finished runner-up earlier this month in Montpellier (l. Alexander Zverev).

Little separated Gasquet and Monfils in the early stages of their match, but Monfils rallied from 1/3 down in the tie-break to grab the opening set. The end of the second set was punctuated by four consecutive breaks of serve, but Gasquet came out on top to force the match into a decider. He broke Monfils twice from there to prevail in two hours and 16 minutes.

DOUBLES

Top seeds Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut advanced into the final with a 6-4, 6-7(3), 10-3 win over fellow Frenchmen Jeremy Chardy and Jonathan Eysseric. Wild card pairing Nick Kyrgios and Matt Reid or Robin Haase alongside Dominic Inglot will complete the final line-up following their Saturday semi-final.