French world number 10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won his first title in two years on Sunday when he defeated Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 in the Metz ATP final.
Tsonga, a finalist at Rotterdam and Queen’s this year, last took a tour trophy in Tokyo in 2009.
Ljubicic, the world number 29, was bidding to win his 11th title. His last triumph came in 2010, when he made a magical run at Indian Wells to claim his first Masters.
Tsonga showed he had a serve to match that of his opponent, firing 14 aces past Ljubicic, and he broke six times to secure the title.
Ljubicic, who had not dropped serve on his way to the final, trailed 4-5 in the second set but held serve to force a tiebreak that he won 7-4.
The effort cost the Croat dearly and he gradually ran out of steam against the 2008 Australian runner-up.
Tsonga, whose career has been hampered by injuries, sealed the win when Ljubicic served a double fault.
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