Competing on the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon for the final time Monday, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s finale on the ATP 250 occasion was spoiled by Alex Molcan.

Frenchman Tsonga, who will retire after Roland Garros, lifted the trophy in Lyon in 2017 and reached the semi-finals in 2007 and 2008. Nevertheless, the previous World No. 5 was unable to match Molcan’s depth of their first-round conflict, struggling a 6-4, 6-4 defeat on house soil in a single hour and 32 minutes.

World No. 47 Molcan loved a run to the ultimate in Marrakech in April and he performed with confidence towards Tsonga, utilizing the drop shot successfully to arrange a second-round assembly towards fifth seed Karen Khachanov or French qualifier Gilles Simon.

“I’m actually completely happy I gained at this time. It was a pleasure to play towards Jo,” Molcan stated in his on-court interview. “He’s a legend of the game and I’m actually completely happy I might play him at the least as soon as in my profession. I bear in mind him taking part in, he was unbelievable. The feelings, every little thing.”

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In an all-French assembly, Ugo Humbert snapped a three-match dropping streak, downing qualifier Gregoire Barrere 6-3, 6-4 in 75 minutes to succeed in the second spherical In Lyon for the second time. The World No. 45 will subsequent meet Australian Alex de Minaur.

In different motion, Soonwoo Kwon saved a match level, earlier than downing Aljaz Bedene 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-0, whereas Germany’s Oscar Otte defeated French wild card Lucas Pouille 6-3, 6-1.

Kwon will subsequent play eighth seed Pedro Martinez or fortunate loser Yosuke Watanuki, with Otte dealing with Estoril champion Sebastian Baez or Argentine qualifier Tomas Martin Etcheverry.