Bernard Tomic goes down against Richard Gasquet in the quarters – Thailand Open 2012
Australian number one, Bernard Tomic, was defeated by the second seed, Richard Gasquet of France, in straight sets 6-7(5), 4-6 in the quarter-finals of the Thailand Open in Bangkok.
Seeded eight in the draw, Tomic was bidding to reach his second semi-final in a tour level event in the season. Playing his very first tournament of the year, the Australian reached the last-four stage, losing to Great Britain’s
Andy Murray in straight sets 3-6, 2-6.
Coming back to the latest match, there was nothing to separate between Gasquet and Tomic in the first set, as they held their serve throughout and equalised the score at 6-6, taking it to a tie-breaker. However, Gasquet captured
first three points to attain a 3-0 lead and never allowed the Australian to bounce back, sealing it 7-6(5).
The Frenchman neither hit an ace nor committed a double fault, putting in 64 percent of the first serves and securing 20 of the 30 points on them. The 6ft 1in tall player fared pretty well on the second ones, as he converted 12
of the 17 of them into points. The right-hander put away all the three break threats he came across in the first set.
First four games of the second set went with serve, taking the score to 2-2. Gasquet stung a break in the fifth and consolidated on it to move forward 4-2. The French star maintained his advantage till the end and grabbed it 6-4.
The world number 14 banged in a couple of aces and 56 percent of the first deliveries this time. Once again, Gasquet won most of the points with his brave second serves, claiming 11 of the 12 points on them in the second set.
Gasquet needed one hour and 29 minutes to throw his young rival out of the event.
During the post match press conference, the French contender said, “Yesterday I was lucky to win, today I played better. It was a tight race in the first set. I did it. I felt more confident. That’s what made the difference.”
Gasquet will play the seventh seed, Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen, in the semi-finals.
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