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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it’s going to be a long day at the office for gasquet. he’s standing so far behind the baseline giving murray the whole court to play with. murray dropshotting a lot and playing very aggressive.
so many empty seats for a qf with a french player. if this were wimby it would be absolutely packed.
I’ve already explained the problems in Paris, apart from the shitty weather, are stopping people attempting to get there unless they are within a cab ride or walking distance. People with hospitality tickets mostly stay in the restaurants and bars and watch the action on the screens.
4-1 to murray has become 5-5 thanks to some unforced errors from murray.
Ferrer pulled out?!
At least Berdych has some firepower to make it interesting against Novak. He has flopped big time in the last few meeting though.
No, Berdych beat him 3, 5 and 3.
oops, sorry…I thought Ferrer had won the second set and when I saw berdych won after the third I thought Ferru pulled out after set 3.
Thanks for correcting.
Good win for Berdy! He needs it after what happened in Rome.
WHAT! Gasquet serving for the set no!
OMG murray double faults to get broken again…! what’s wrong with him?? gasquet to serve for the set..what could possibly go wrong hahaha….
0-15 unforced backhand error
15-15 reflex volley by gasquet
30-15 unforced backhand error by murray
40-15 drop shot gasquet
40-30 forced forehand error gasquet
deuce thanks to a murray drop shot
adv murray double fault gasqet
adv gasquet with a smash
great forehand pass by murray deuce
bp murray
deuce after deuce…dropshot brick by andy on bp
backhand unforced error by murray gives gasquet the set..
murray had 3 breakpoints…
While I was sleeping, TENNIS!??
This was always going to be a four set match and i said yesterday if he took the low road it would be a five-setter.
Muzz always makes life difficult for himself. He will pull this one back eventually though.
I’ve been watching him since he was 16 years old 🙂
#Hope I haven’t jinxed him.
Only been watching since the very end of the first set.
You were right about the match going 4! or more. Richie performing well for the crowd. Wow. This might go five. Andy needs to keep it cool and not make it too difficult for himself. Cheering for both!
Outstanding.
murray had 2 break points and lost them. he is dumping second serve returns in the net over and over again. timing is completely off on ros.
NervRous,
why hawk?
Murray making dumb errors I mean,
#DrenchOpen
Oh, okay. I thought you liked Richie.
But, yeah. I’m leaning toward Andy FTW. But what if Richie has found some sort of Nirvana ………..??
Wait. I think I get it. But maybe not.
Yes, no I’m not nerv(r)ous, Muzza is.
#BetweenTheEars
Bother. He is making life difficult for himself. How many times do we have to watch him fighting back from 2 sets down.
Time to make a dent in the Gasquet confidence.
break murray