Gasquet Reaches Sixth Consecutive Montpellier Final

  • Posted: Feb 10, 2018

Gasquet Reaches Sixth Consecutive Montpellier Final

Feb102018

Three-time champion will meet No. 2 seed Lucas Pouille in Sunday’s final

Richard Gasquet reached his sixth consecutive Open Sud de France final with a 6-4, 0-6, 6-3 win over David Goffin on Saturday.

A three-time champion in southern France, Gasquet upset the top seed after one hour, 48 minutes. The 31-year-old will look to clinch his 15th tour-level title on Sunday, in his first final since losing to Alexander Zverev in Montpellier last season.

“I’m very happy to reach my sixth final here,” said Gasquet. “It’s quite amazing for me. I never expected that, to be in the final again. I played four big matches, especially today with one of the best players in the world.”

The opening set was decided by one break of serve, as Gasquet turned the tables on the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals runner-up in the seventh game, firing a forehand passing shot to move ahead before serving out the set to move to within a set of the final.

Despite getting broken three times to lose the second set, Gasquet bounced back with the home crowd cheering him on to secure the crucial break in the seventh game of the deciding set. He then broke again to close out the match, guaranteeing the French fans a sixth French champion in eight years in Montpellier.

Goffin’s search for a fifth tour-level crown continues. With a win over Gasquet, the World No. 7 would have advanced to his sixth ATP World Tour final since the start of last season.

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Aiming to win his first title since the 2016 European Open in Antwerp, Gasquet will meet compatriot Lucas Pouille in Sunday’s final, which will be the fourth all-French championship match in eight editions of the tournament.

Pouille moved into the final after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was forced to retire from their semi-final with a left hamstring injury while leading 6-1, 5-5.

It is the fifth final for Pouille since the beginning of last season (3-1) and he seeks his fifth ATP World Tour title. Pouille leads Gasquet 3-1 in their FedEx ATP Head 2 Head series, with Gasquet’s only win coming en route to his second title in Montpellier three years ago.

Did You Know?
There has been a French champion or finalist at the Open Sud de France every year since its inception in 2010.

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