Richard Gasquet breezes past Jurgen Zopp into the round of 64 – French Open 2012
French player, Richard Gasquet, gave a treat to the local spectators, as he dumped world number 103, Jurgen Zopp of Estonia, in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) in the opener at the French Open in Paris on Tuesday.
Gasquet and Zopp started steadily, winning first five games to take the score to 3-2 in the favour of the Frenchman. Gasquet struck in the sixth game and capitalised on it to win 6-3.
The former world number seven bombarded four aces and 72 percent of the first serves on Zopp. He pocketed 16 of the 18 first and five of the seven second delivery points. The Frenchman avoided both break threats he came across
and utilised the only opportunity of his own in the opener.
Gasquet and Zopp held their serve in the first eight games of the second set to take the score to 4-4. The French star hit a blow to his Estonian opponent in the ninth and served it out at 5-4.
The 25-year-old didn't hit any ace and committed a single double fault. He had a below average first serve percentage of 61 but managed to incredibly convert 17 of the 19 of them into points. The 6ft 1in tall fired eight winners
and made six unforced errors.
Gasquet and Zopp served brilliantly in the third set, as they did not lose their serve even once till the end and levelled the score at 6-6. The Frenchman built a 5-2 lead and made the most of it, capturing it 7-6(4).
The Neuchatel, Switzerland resident delivered 62 percent of the first serves and won 24 of the 29 points on them in the third set.
Giving an interview at the end of the contest, Gasquet said, "I think I played well. It was not easy. I was not far from losing a set, either the second or the third one. The first match on the central court is always like this.
You have to know how to play. He was playing well. I'd say it's a good match for me."
Gasquet is slated to meet world number 87, Grigor Dimitrov, in the second round.
The Frenchman added, about Dimitrov, "Each time I was practising against him, I thought, 'Wow, he's a big player'. I have to play a big match to beat him because he will be ranked top 10 one of these days I'm certain."
This will be the second meeting between Gasquet and Dimitrov. The French player leads 1-0 in the head to head record.
Tags: