Roland Garros is down to its last Frenchman in the singles draw, and an upset will be required if the host nation wants to have a representative in the semifinals. Richard Gasquet may not have been France’s best hope prior to the tournament, but he has battled his way into a Tuesday showdown with Andy Murray.
Andy Murray and Richard Gasquet will be squaring off for the 11th time in their careers when they clash in the quarterfinals of the French Open on Tuesday. Murray is leading the head-to-head series 7-3, including 2-1 on clay and 4-0 in their last four meetings dating back to a collision at this same tournament in 2012.
What was a burgeoning Grand Slam rivalry between 2008 and 2012 has stalled out of late. Murray and Gasquet faced each other four times at slams–twice at Roland Garros and twice at Wimbledon–in a five-year span, but they have not met in such a situation since the Scot prevailed 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 during fourth-round action in 2012. Murray has recovered from two-set deficits at the Frenchman’s expense on two occasions; 5-7, 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-2, 6-4 at the All-England Club in 2008 and 4-6, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 in the 2010 French Open first round.
Speaking of opening-round scares on the red clay, that is exactly what the world No. 2 endured last week. Veteran qualifier Radek Stepanek surged to a two-set advantage over Murray only to eventually succumb 3-6, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5. Murray struggled though another five-setter in round two–against little-known wild card Mathias Bourgue, whom the favorite overcame 6-2, 2-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. A pair of huge servers proved to be just what the doctor ordered for Murray, who raised his level considerably in straight-set defeats of Ivo Karlovic and John Isner.
Surprisingly, Gasquet had never been to the French Open quarters prior to this fortnight. The world No. 12 finally got over the hump in his 13th appearance, and he did so by upsetting Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 on Sunday. That was preceded by straight-setters against Thomaz Bellucci, Bjorn Fratangelo, and Nick Kyrgios. Thus run has really come out of nowhere for Gasquet, whose clay-court preparation was derailed by none other than Nishikori (the Japanese cruised in third-round contests in Madrid and Rome).
But avenging those losses to Nishikori should have Gasquet brimming with confidence heading into this one. Unfortunately for the underdog, the pressure will be ratcheted up for his first-ever quarterfinal at Roland Garros. He handled it well on Sunday, but an even bigger test against an even better opponent could be a problem. Murray’s propensity to take the ball early–especially off the return of serve–will take time away from a player who does not have compact strokes off either the forehand or backhand side. Nishikori had previously managed to execute that tactic but let himself get pushed around in rallies during the most recent contest.
Murray has been improving with each match, and the upswing in form should see him through to an impressive third consecutive French Open semifinal.
Pick: Murray in 4
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the rain is getting worse…i reckon they’re not coming out now…
Oh lawdy, lawdy, lawd: I’m getting bored with this.
is it?! they had taken the covers off! happened like 25 mins ago
they’re coming out in the rain…
okay this is getting frustrating now!!Will Djokovic be able to finish his match today?
this is very dangerous for nole. if they play it in bits going on and off there is a much bigger chance he could slip up…excuse pun…
not a big fan of rba. i saw some of thiem playing in the rain and making errors. the conditions are very difficult…
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Djokovic, holding an umbrella, takes a stroll on PC!
nole doing his ‘singing in the rain’ impersonation….
he has come out pretty well…
Play about to resume! there is still drops of rain I guess
are*
RBA rallies from 0-40 to hold! just following the scores
nole should have got the break! but he hasn’t lost a single point on his serve…
looking much better
not even watching and I can tell he is playing a lot better
Thiem got the first set. 6-2
good for the game
vamos Thiem
I’m watching Nole v RBA…nervously. Just have scores for Thiem. Thiem already with a break in the 2nd set. Go Dom!
wth! 5 BPs saved! or wasted?
wasted some of them vr..
another love hold though
again he should have broken! that back hand he hit long!!
could be up 4-0
cruising on serve
Halep losing. Aga losing too. Wow — Pironkova. Up 3-0 in the 3rd.
Stosur winning makes sense, the way it is.
Aga had a set and a consolidated break two days ago.
aga had a mto…
today? well, no matter, score looks like she’s done. These are not good conditions for her but I didn’t know they were good for Pironkova!
yes today. i saw some of the match earlier she looked so unhappy with the conditions…
yes!! go nole!! great backhand to break!
RBA breaks back. amy, I’m prepared for the worst.
utterly unbelievable!! hasn’t lost a point on serve and loses it on the first break point. that was mental for sure.
Djokovic’s going to smash a racket soon…. what’s going on here?!
nerves
jeez what was that??
Gosh, he needs to break and get this set. But no excuses. This is the best RBA has played vs Nole.
OMG on break point!! he is starting to hit short as well
gr8 point nole! now break!
at last nole breaks with his #9 break point
Serving for the set…
15-15 great point
30-30. broke string …sheesh.
2nd serve…double fault!
double fault to give rba break point
yes ace!!
nole loses 2 points through broken strings…!!
got broken again with rba’s second break point. this is horrible.