Richard Gasquet survives in five sets against Florian Mayer – Davis Cup 2011: FRA vs GER
Starting the first rubber of the Germany-France tie in the quarterfinal round of the 2011 Davis Cup were world number 20, Florian Mayer and the French hot gun, Richard Gasquet. Played on outdoor classic clay courts, the conditions favoured the Germans as they enjoyed the home town advantage, though Gasquet proved otherwise. The TC Weissenhof Stuttgart court was full of roaring fans, cheering for their team, but to no avail.
Playing each other for the third time, the pair stood at a level 1-1 career head to head record. However, a resilient Gasquet battled past the German in five sets to take a 2-1 lead. In a battle that lasted three hours and 32 minutes, Gasquet bounced back from being two sets down to secure a 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 win.
Opening the match with his furious serve, the world No.20 gave a promising start to the fans. Playing with his motivational levels to a maximum, the German came off to a flying start. Giving no chance to the Frenchman, Mayer pocketed the first set with a 6-4 win in just 38 minutes.
The Frenchman, however, did not break his nerve and made a comeback in the second set. Florian won the first set but the Frenchman gave him a shocker winning three games in a row. However, the World No.20 managed to pull out the next game and made it back in the game 3-2. Florian also snatched the next game levelling the scores to 3-3.
Clinching his way back for the big kill, the German first snatched a break from the Frenchman and extended his lead to 4-3. Serving absolute shockers and making the score fall to 5-3, the German was starting to rein misery on the world No.11. Florian made it hard for the Frenchman to think of anything other than a further loss. Gasquet served for the next game and won in a long rally, making the scores 5-4. Serving for the set, the German made the Frenchman fall to his knees. Throwing blazers at Gasquet, Florian ended the second set in 49 minutes to a 6-4 win again.
As the game went on, temperature rose to an extreme. As the 3rd set started, the Frenchman immediately took a 1-0 lead serving first. Trying to turn the tables, Gasquet broke the 2nd game making the score 2 games to 0 in the third set. Serving for the third game, the world No.11 could not hold his place as the German broke gaining 1 game back. Making use of his serve, the German almost gave away the game but succeeded in winning at the end levelling the score once again to 2-2.
The score moved on to 3-2 and then to 3-3 as both player won on their serves. Gasquet, serving for the game, won the next game making the scores 4 games to3. But the game was yet to be decided. The German made his mark winning on his serve and broke in the next game to lead the set 5-4. Serving for the match, the German lost the game and gave the Frenchman some air to breathe. As the scores was level 5-5, the world No.11 served and made the most of it by winning the next game changing the score to 6-5 and finally taking away the set 7-5 to come back in the game.
Proving his top billing, Richard Gasquet converted three break points in the last two sets to clinch a 6-3, 6-3 win
Providing his country with a 1-0 lead in the tie and beating the German in front of their home crowd, the Frenchmen's win has proved why he holds a higher place in the rankings.
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