Gasquet Extends Strong Montpellier Record
Richard Gasquet’s love affair with the Open Sud de France continued Thursday. The Frenchman downed Soonwoo Kwon 7-5, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals in Montpellier for the ninth time.
The World No. 75 has triumphed on home soil at the ATP 250 event three times, lifting the trophy in 2013, 2015 and 2016. In a solid performance, Gasquet won 15 consecutive points on serve in the first set to clinch the opener before he broke at the start of the second set to gain further control.
“I was solid on the court,” Gasquet said in his on-court interview. “I didn’t make many mistakes, which was the key in the match. I played well and I didn’t lose my serve. When playing indoors the court is fast, so I had to serve well and I did. I am really happy to win because he is a great player.”
The 35-year-old, who also advanced to the final in Montpellier in 2014, 2017 and 2018, has now recorded a leading 28 match wins at the tournament after his one-hour, 40-minute triumph against Kwon. Gasquet will face third-seeded countryman Gael Monfils or Swede Mikael Ymer in the last eight.
In other action, Frenchman Adrian Mannarino maintained his strong form, moving past defending champion David Goffin 6-4, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals.
The World No. 58 arrived at the ATP 250 event on the back of his best-ever run at the Australian Open where he reached the fourth round, earning Top 20 victories against Hubert Hurkacz and Aslan Karatsev.
Mannarino played with consistency from the baseline throughout against the eighth seed as he dictated the rallies with his flat groundstrokes to advance after 90 minutes. With his win, the 33-year-old has improved his ATP Head2Head record against the Belgian to 2-5. Mannarino will next play top seed Alexander Zverev or World No. 56 Mackenzie McDonald.
Qualifier Damir Dzumhur advanced to his first tour-level quarter-final since last July (Umag), upsetting fourth seed Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 in one hour and 38 minutes. The World No. 152 meets fifth seed Filip Krajinovic in the last eight.