Should we congratulate ourselves for Richard Gasquet, 35, almost stainless for 3:18 despite a week spent in isolation in Australia (the fault of the Covid) greatly disrupting his preparation? Or worry about Ugo Humbert, 23, who definitely can’t do it in Grand Slam tournaments? The Messin, going on the hats of wheels against his compatriot, lost for the fourth time in a row in the first round in a Major. Since his round of 16 at Wimbledon in 2019, he has won only two games in nine Grand Slam appearances… Gasquet (81st in the world) had however given the impression of being quickly overtaken by the pace of Humbert, impressive when he manages to adjust his attacks. But the veteran from Biterrois hung on court 13 subject to a few gusts of wind. He succeeded in prolonging the rallies, started the festival of setbacks that he knows how to distill so well, and above all – once is not custom _, had a great success in the service (12 aces in total, 79% of points behind the first ball, four break points conceded). While Humbert became less and less sharp, Gasquet managed to manage the two tie-breaks that were to follow to regain the advantage in the match. In the first, he concluded with a new winning setback. And in the second, he took advantage in particular of three big unforced errors to break away. “I got a little tense at the end of the set, regretted Humbert. I was not positive enough, nor enterprising enough. I try to do my best, but I still have difficulty in my approaches to Grand Slam tournaments. I find it hard to concentrate on the game. I haven’t seen in this match what I was doing during the preparation for two weeks, and it’s disappointing. » The Messin, who found his strike force, however left well in the fourth set, to break and lead 2-1. But he was immediately caught up, tense again. At 4-3 for Gasquet, Humbert led 40-0 to pick up the score, again taken back to end up losing this crucial face-off, in a sequence where the eldest planted two passing shots and an impeccable backhand return. It only remained for Gasquet to conclude. With two service winners, and the inevitable backhand match point winner, he could savor one of the most valiant successes of these years under Covid.
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