Second-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon won the 11th title of his career when he outplayed top seed and compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 6-3 in the final of the ATP Metz Open.
Simon, whose summer has been plagued by whooping cough and its after-effects, only entered the tournament on a wildcard.
In beating Tsonga, the world No.8 who was playing his first tournament for almost three months after a knee injury, Simon became the fourth player this season to win a tournament on a wildcard invite after Argentina’s Juan Monaco in Duesseldorf, France’s Nicolas Mahut in Newport (USA) and Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro in Washington.
Simon’s 11th title draws him level with Guy Forget for career wins by Frenchmen, still far off the 23 won by Yannick Noah.