Tennis-Ruthless Nadal demolishes Gasquet to reach French Open third
round
Send a link to a friend
[June 04, 2021]
By Julien Pretot
PARIS (Reuters) - Claycourt machine
Rafa Nadal celebrated his 35th birthday by handing his longtime pal
Richard Gasquet a 6-0 7-5 6-2 masterclass as he stormed into the
third round of the French Open on Thursday.
Thirteen-time Roland Garros champion Nadal showed no mercy as he
demolished the Frenchman for the 17th time in as many professional
encounters.
Gasquet beat Nadal in the semi-finals of the Under-14 Tournoi des
Petits As in 1999, but since then has always emerged second best in
their encounters.
The Spaniard has never been troubled by the Frenchman's
single-handed backhand and produced a ruthless display as he took a
step closer in his pursuit of a men's record 21st Grand Slam singles
title.

Thursday' match, scheduled in the night session, was played in an
empty Philippe Chatrier stadium because of the local 9pm curfew amid
the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I think I played a great first set, one of the best of the
claycourt season, in my opinion. No mistakes, high intensity,
winners, playing long," Nadal told reporters.
"Positive feelings. Of course it would be better to play with a
crowd, but for the rest, I think for most of the match I played a
very good level of tennis."
Gasquet only managed nine points in the opening set as he lost seven
games in a row, being totally overwhelmed by Nadal's top spin and
his forehands down the line.
Gasquet, who reached a career high world number seven back in 2007,
put up a fight in the second set but even that was not enough to
rattle Nadal.
[to top of second column]
|

Richard Gasquet (FRA) in action during
his match against Rafael Nadal (ESP) on day five of the French Open
at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY
Sports

The Frenchman nudged to a 5-4 lead with a splendid service return,
but Nadal earned another break in the 12th game to take a two-set
lead.
A more relaxed Gasquet unleashed some delightful backhands, but
Nadal broke for 4-2 in the decider as his opponent started to run
out of steam, and never looked back to set up a meeting with
Britain's Cameron Norrie.
Improving his Roland Garros record to a jaw dropping 102-2, Nadal
has not dropped a set here since beating Dominic Thiem in the 2019
final.
Gasquet's defeat ended a woeful tournament for the French contingent
as he was the last local favourite standing, meaning no French male
or female player will be in the third round at Roland Garros for the
first time since tennis turned professional in 1968.
It is the first time since Wimbledon 2007 that no local player
features in the third round of their home Grand Slam.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.

|