Richard Gasquet defeats Denis Istomin; advances at 2011 Monte Carlo Rolex Masters
World number 18th Richard Gasquet took on Russia’s Denis Istomin at the first round of Monte Carlo Masters tournament on Monday. Gasquet took two hours and forty minutes to outplay his opponent from the tournament.
The tournament is being played at the Monte Carlo Country Club and is the third tournament of ATP 1000 Masters Series which straightaway follows the Miami Masters.
In the first set, Gasquet hammered 51 percent of first serves and gained 60 percent of points on them. Istomin on the other hand fired two aces, 59 percent first serves and gained 64 percent of points on them. Istomin saved 60
percent breakpoints in the set to clinch it with a 7-5 score line.
The second set was totally different to the first one with Gasquet holding all the aces. He won 67 percent points on his first 41 percent serves. Furthermore he was a lot better than his opponent in winning total service points.
He gained 72 percent of service points in total and clinched the second set with a 6-3 score line.
In the final set, Istomin seemed to have lost his all hopes to win the set. He lost the final set with a 6-4 score line. He hammered 56 percent of first serves and gained an acceptable percentage of 65 percent on them. He collected
three of four breakpoint chances and 45 percent points in total. Whereas the Frenchman was better in all areas with 77 percent points in serves, 39 percent points in return and 55 percent of points in total to clinch the match in straight sets.
Playing for the second time on courts, Gasquet has extended his winning streak to 2-0 in their head-to-head series. Players met for the first time at the 2009 Australian Open where Gasquet knocked out the Russian in three sets.
Looking into his prior performances, the Frenchman has risen to the occasions many times. In an attempt to reach the finals of 2005 Monte Carlo Masters, he ousted Roger Federer in straight sets at the quarterfinals though he lost
to the ultimate defending champion Rafael Nadal in a three setter. In his latest performance at the Miami Masters he reached to the quarterfinals ousting Pablo Cuevas, Jurgen Melzer and Andy Roddick in the first four rounds, before losing to ultimate defending
champion Novak Djokovic in two sets 2-6, 4-6.
Gasquet will face either compatriot Vincent Millot or Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain in the next round of the tournament.
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