Tsonga, Del Potro Win Marseille Milestone Matches

© AFP/Getty ImagesJo-Wilfried Tsonga recorded the 200th match win of his career on Friday.

Top seed and 2009 champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will clash with Juan Martin del Potro in the Open 13 semi-finals after both notched their 200th career victories Friday in Marseille.

Tsonga continued his quest for a ninth ATP World Tour title by beating fellow Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-4, 7-5 in one hour and 33 minutes. The World No. 6 won 70 per cent of his service points and hit 14 aces past World No. 95 Roger-Vasselin, who could only convert one of his 11 break point opportunities.

The 26-year-old Tsonga improves to an 11-1 match record on the season, which includes one trophy at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha (d. Monfils) in the first week of 2012.

He’ll aim to overturn a 1-3 record against del Potro when he takes on the Argentine on Saturday. The No. 4 seed booked his place in the semi-finals after topping fifth seed Richard Gasquet 7-5, 7-6(5).

Del Potro won 78 per cent of his first serve points, firing 15 aces against Gasquet. In the second set tie-break, he secured a mini-break on match point to advance in just under two hours. "It was a really nice match to play. His backand passing shots were fantastic," said del Potro.

"But I served really well in the tie-break. When I was down 4-3, I hit two aces. On my first match point, I played aggressive to take the match. It was really close. This time I won, but it was tough. This match could have been a semi-final or final for sure."

The 10th-ranked del Potro is coming off a runner-up showing to Roger Federer at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam last week and is bidding to win his 10th title.

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Third seed Janko Tipsarevic progressed to his second semi-final of the year, defeating No. 7 seed Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 6-4. The Serb did not face a break point, and converted one break of serve in each set to claim victory in one hour and 29 minutes.

Tipsarevic is looking to win his third title, having reached the final at the Aircel Chennai Open to start his season (l. to Raonic). The World No. 9 captured his first two ATP World Tour crowns last year in Kuala Lumpur (d. Baghdatis) and Moscow (d. Troicki). Tipsarevic has won 18 of his past 22 matches indoors and will look to continue his success on the surface when he faces Michael Llodra in the semi-finals.

Llodra, the 2010 champion and 2009 runner-up, battled to beat first-time ATP World Tour quarter-finalist Albano Olivetti, a fellow Frenchman, 7-6(5), 7-5 in 88 minutes. World No. 50 Llodra hit 14 aces and lost just five points on serve against No. 388-ranked Olivetti, who beat Mardy Fish on Thursday night.