Llodra defeats Benneteau in Open 13 final

MARSEILLE, France, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Michael Llodra claimed a straight-set victory Sunday over No. 8-seeded Julien Benneteau in winning the Open 13 tennis tournament final in France.

Llodra needed just 70 minutes to complete the 6-3, 6-4 win over Benneteau in the all-French final. It was the fourth ATP title for Llodra but first in two years. He collected $125,700 for the win while Benneteau, who fell to 0-4 in title matches, pocketed $66,200.

Llodra lost his first set of the tournament but won 10 straight in a run that included victories over top-seeded Robin Soderling and seventh-seeded Marcos Baghdatis. Benneteau had taken out second-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsongas and No. 3-seeded Gael Monfils en route to the finals.

Llodra didn't face a break point in Sunday's match and cashed in the two -- one in each set -- he forced on Benneteau. Those two breaks accounted for eight of the 15 points Llodra won off Benneateau's serve.

Benneteau wasn't able to solve Llodra's serve, winning just 16 points over 10 games as Llodra won 85 percent of the points when he got his first serve in.