David Ferrer and Richard Gasquet faced each other in the fourth round of last year’s U.S. Open. Now they are set for a quarterfinal clash on Wednesday, with the winner to go up against either Rafael Nadal or Tommy Robredo.
David Ferrer and Richard Gasquet will be squaring off for the 10th time in their careers when they do battle in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open on Wednesday. Ferrer is dominating the head-to-head series 9-1, including 6-1 on hard courts. Their most recent encounter came at none other than last year’s U.S. Open, where Ferrer won a fourth-round meeting 7-5, 7-6(2), 6-4.
The fourth-ranked Spaniard is through to his eighth consecutive Grand Slam final thanks to victories over Nick Kyrgios, Roberto Bautista Agut, Mikhail Kukushkin, and Janko Tipsarevic. Ferrer had been dismal since losing to Juan Martin Del Potro in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, with early-round setbacks in both Montreal and Barcelona. Still, though, the 31-year-old is an outstanding 46-14 for the season.
Gasquet is a similarly impressive 38-14 for the year, which features titles in Doha and Montpellier plus a semifinal run in Miami. The ninth-ranked Frenchman reached the quarters at the Montreal Masters and he has remained in fine form in New York. Gasquet booked his spot in the last eight with defeats of Michael Russell, Stephane Robert, Dmitry Tursunov, and Milos Raonic. He needed four hours and 40 minutes on Monday night to outlast Roanic 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 2-6, 7-6(9), 7-5.
Given his past struggles in this matchup, Gasquet would obviously have to be 100 percent in order to have any chance in this one. Coming off the thriller against Raonic is not a good sign, and Ferrer is about as good as it gets when it comes to pouncing on opponents who may not be moving quite at their best.
Pick: Ferrer in 3
[polldaddy poll=7367880]
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Ferrer has only ever made one Slam final. But this will be his 8th consecutive QF.
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Given his past struggles in this matchup, GASQUET would obviously have to be 100 percent in order to have any chance
This should be a good match! They are both playing well but I give Ferrer the edge in five sets!
—The eighth-ranked Frenchman…—
The Frenchman is eighth seeded, but he is ranked No.9.
yep thanks
I voted ‘Ferrer in 4’.
I voted Ferrer in 4. I would love to see Gasquet make this a good match. He showed in the match with Raonic that he has really worked in his fitness. He stayed tough and strong in the latter stages of that match to get the win.
Ferrer in 5
Posted the above before I discovered the match had started. Just tuned in to see Ferrer in the process of being taken to the cleaners. Suppose he could do a Robredo and come back from two sets down. Gasquet will need some stamina if it goes to 4 or 5 sets after the punishing match with Raonic.
I’m with you ed251137, I originally had Ferru in 4. I can’t see Reeshad maintaining this level over 5 sets…….
Ferrer in 5
Gasquet came out on fire, but now seems to be losing steam. Ferrer can outlast almost anyone. I don’t know if Gasquet has enough left to get the win. I would really like to see him do it.
I know that it can’t be Ferrer in four now. So there goes my prediction. It’s really looking like he will do it in five now.
I am still holding out hope that Gasquet can do it this time.
I want Ferru to do this. I am not liking this Reeshad, I have never seen him fight this hard, he might carry over this fighting spirit into the semis!
So, where was this fighting spirit in Montreal when Reeshad was given a drubbing by Novak?
I wanted Daveed to win but fear he has just double faulted his chance away 🙁
Unbelievable, never would have picked Gasquet…………….
Wowsers, this reloaded Gasquet is really something!
Very good serving for the French man in the last set whereas Ferrer just had too many UEs.
We have our fist semifinalist.. no-one would have picked Gasquet before this tourney.
Well well well…allez richard! I picked him to win in 4 but never thought he’d do it in 5. Funny how he already assumes he will play against Rafa.
Yes, this is tennis folks!!!! You just never know!! Reeshard does have it in him…………….very interesting it would be between the frenchman and the spaniard if Rafa wins!!!!!
Very happy for Gasquet, commies to Ferrer fans!!!
Just shows you, with the right people behind a player, a good training regiment, a player can change…………
Ferrer has not been playing well for a while now. He got through to the quarterfinals because there was no one decent to stop him. He is physically fit and can wear down weaker opponents.
After watching Gasquet in his fourth round match with Raonic, I thought that he looked much more physically fit. He played really good tennis and stayed mentally strong. He has always had the talent, but the mental strength and fitness were not there.
I thought that Ferrer might manage another one of those comebacks, but Gasquet stayed strong. He also was able to keep up physically with Ferrer. I am happy that his hard work has been rewarded.
Once Ferrer’s draw came out and once Gulbis and Jerzy lost early, then it wasn’t unreasonable to see someone like Gasquet come through. I thought Raonic might beat Gasquet and meet Ferrer in the quarterfinals. This part of the draw was so weak that there was bound to be a surprise semifinalist given how Ferrer has been playing. Many of the online sports analysts and pundits picked Jerzy to get to the semis. Some thought that Gulbis might take out Ferrer. This was a good chance for anyone who was able to take advantage of it. Gasquet was the one who managed to do it.
I am now worried about Gasquet against Rafa in the semis. First things first. Rafa has to get past Robredo. Assuming Rafa gets through, I think that Gasquet could make it more competitive but he’s not going to beat Rafa.
I remember Ricky initially posing the question as to whether it was better for Rafa to avoid the likes of Djoker or Murray in the semis, but have a tough early path to get there. Well now we know that Rafa’s tough path didn’t materialize. He didn’t have to face Isner or Fed. Considering what we saw of Fed against Robredo the other night, it would not have been a difficult quarterfinal should Rafa have faced him.
I oh
E what we are witnessing from Ferru is not he same affliction bedeviling Fed: terminal decline.
Sorry, typos again! I meant to say in my next to last paragraph – I am NOT worried about Gasquet against Rafa in the semis!
So rafa will be playing 3rd consecutive match with one handed backhanders.. i must say its as easy as i can think of.. most lucky man in the draw is rafa.. i won’t be surprised at all now when rafa will bite the trophy …
are you joking or what????!!!!! just look at djoker path!!!!!!!! some of them just couldn’t make the ball back in play in the first hit!!
rafa will only see a “little bit” more resistance in finals than his last 6 opponents .. eagrly waiting for the finals now..
I wonder how much of an influence Bartoli’s Wimby win had on Richard’s resurgence? He is a good friend of Rafa’s, I hope this is the start of a real statement of intent from Reeshie……..