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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No play before 6.30 pm
serena’s match has been cancelled…
Not a good sign. Welp. I’m trying to calm down and enjoy the day. You too, Amy, okay? Going to work off some of this caffeine đ
yep chill out rc!!
both simona and aga furious and saying they could not play for fear of injury. saying that rg didn’t care about the players.
At the end of the day the players are no more than cattle fodder to feed the money making industry that tennis has become. Sadly.
So the top half must play at least 4 out of next 5 days. Has there ever been a RG finals played on a Monday (not due to Sunday rain-out)?
final will be on Monday
Has this been confirmed?
Nope
They had to have 2 hours of play in order to avoid a refund for the tickets. Bad luck for the spectators. Attending these events cost a lot of money when you include travel and hotel accommodation and to end up seeing a soggy match for 2 hours is a disgrace.
My husband wants to treat me to the AO next year, but no way would I go all that way especially if Rafa doesn’t end up biting the trophy, worse still if he goes out early for any reason.
RBA can do this if he keeps his head. Boot the Djoker out, please.
Vamos RBA!
He can’t.
Wishful thinking đ
the problem definitely isn’t his head
the problem yesterday wasn’t rba’s head it was nole’s…..
it was nole’s faltering and nerves which gave rba belief…
Hahaha no.
No one underestimates Fed less than Fed.
serena boots out svitolina with some amazing serving.
venus is losing to baszinsky….boo!! i want venus to win…
bertens is beating madison keys convincingly as well…
nole is in the house!! first break point he takes it! forehand on fire so far…great forehands cross court
Beatdown city!
nole takes second set 6-1. he is calm today and looking like the world number one. no-one on this side of the draw will take him down if he plays like this.
great t serves on second serve. cross court forehand opening up the court for the backhand put away
rba saves a break point and wriggles out of his service game with some fantastic play. i didn’t think he could play that well. he is making great shots everywhere.
nole’s lobs are horrible as usual…
sigh. nole broken with first break point against him.
dumps an easy overhead in the net. his overhead is so dodgy at times…
Nole’s luck needs to run out……..about time!
nole breaks straight back taking his first break point.
I’m just keeping up with the scores on Nole/RBA. I am watching Berdy/Ferru instead.
stop playing the drop shot nole!!!
he’s messed up 3 or 4 in a row now…
at last a drop shot which vaguely works…
rba has fought so hard today and yesterday..i am very surprised…
I said he stands a chance if he keeps his head.
Vamos RBA!
nole breaks and will serve for the match!!
rba has tried to emulate rafa with the forehand dtl but he lacks the power to produce the killer shot
that’s rba’s problem no killer shot
GSM
he does it! GSM
his forehand is pretty darn good
yeah i have been surprised by him…
another drop shot to lose the match point
go and put your feet up nole! play piano with jelena and stefan
#fur elise…
thiem up double break in 3rd. go thiem…!