Roger Federer upset by Richard Gasquet in the third round of Internazionali BNL d’Italia
World number 3, Swiss legend Roger Federer crashed out of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia as he was upset by French Richard Gasquet, ranked 16th in the world, in three sets 4-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(4) in the third round at the
clay courts of Foro Italico in Rome on Thursday. It took the French two hours and 19 minutes to undo his opponent in a nail biting match.
Federer drew first blood as he broke Gasquet in the opening game of the first set and consolidated on it to take a 2-0 lead. But, Federer’s lead did not last long as Gasquet broke back in the fourth game to square off the score
at 2-2. The Swiss Maestro hit a forehand winner to clinch a break of serve in the seventh game and served out the set at 5-4.
The right-handed delivered three aces and 77 percent of the first serves in the opening set, claiming 88 percent of the points on them. Federer failed to save the only break point he faced but compensated that by winning both break
points he received in the first set.
The Swiss was in commanding position as he broke Gasquet in the fifth game of the second set and held his next service game to take a 4-2 lead. However, the French fought back and hit a volley winner to break back in the eighth
game, levelling the score at 4-4. The set went into a tie-break, where Gasquet snatched five consecutive points to grab it 7-2.
The Frenchman fired three aces and 69 percent of the first serves, capturing 78 percent of the points on them in the second set. The right-handed claimed one of the two break points on Federer’s serve and saved three of the four
break points on his own serve in the second set.
Federer and Gasquet held their serve in the first 12 games of the third set to level the score at 6-6, taking the set into a tie-break. The French clinched a single mini-break in the tie-break, bagging it 7-4.
A jubilant Gasquet said, "I did a very good match for sure and as you can imagine I am very happy to beat Roger. This does not happen so many times so I have to enjoy it. His forehand is very fast and the court today is very fast
and very difficult conditions, but I tried to play good.”
Federer has not won a single championship in the last four months. His only title of the season so far came at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, where he defeated Russian Nikolay Davydenko in the final.
Disappointed after the loss, Federer said, “That is how it goes. Sometimes it is unfortunate because I was playing well and then it didn’t happen at all any more so it was a disappointing end to the match. But it will not affect
my preparation and work for the French Open, I will be fine.”
Gasquet will meet world number 7 Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic in the quarterfinals.
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