Aurélie SACCHELLI, Media365, published on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 8:32 p.m.
Seeded n°8 in Marrakech, the Serb Laslo Djere qualified for the round of 16 without incident, like the seeded number 1 Félix Auger-Aliassime. Albert Ramos-Viñolas, seeded number 4, was eliminated from the start as was Federico Delbonis. Richard Gasquet, meanwhile, got the better of Henri Laaksonen.
After a day on Monday which prevented the last qualifying round from finishing and the first round of the main tournament from starting, due to the rain which did not stop falling on Marrakech, things are going much better this Tuesday. All the matches were able to start on time, and Laslo Djere, the first seed in the running, managed to qualify for the round of 16. The Serb beat Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-4 in 1:15. In each set, Djere took the lead by breaking his opponent, but was later unbroken (3-3 in the first set, 1-1 in the second), before taking the serve again of the Czech at 5-4 in both sets to win. Unable to win a game in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, he won his first victory on clay of the season and will face Malek Jaziri in the round of 16. The Tunisian took advantage of the abandonment of Jiri Vesely (6-7, 6-3, 2-0 in 1h58 ‘). Seeded number 4 of the tournament, Albert Ramos-Viñolas has already taken the direction of the exit. Opposed to the Italian Lorenzo Musetti, the Spaniard lost in two sets. While the two players exchanged breaks, the 82nd in the world missed two set points before being taken to the decisive game. Winning five points in a row, the Italian took the lead. The second round had a very different course with Lorenzo Musetti who quickly led four games to nothing before managing his advantage (7-6, 6-1 in 1h43 ‘). Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, seeded number 7, leaves the tournament after the loss against Federico Coria (7-5, 3-6, 6-4 in 2h18 ‘).
Gasquet starts his week well, Auger-Aliassime too
A first day of competition in Marrakech which smiled on Richard Gasquet. The Biterrois, the only Habs in the main draw of the tournament, struggled but managed to get the better of Henri Laaksonen. A late break after missing the boat in the fifth game allowed Richard Gasquet to take the lead and then conclude the first set on his serve. Abused at the start of the second set and led three games to one, the Swiss reacted by winning four games in a row, regaining the advantage at the same time. The end of the set turned to the exchange of breaks between the two players, which allowed Henri Laaksonen to come back up. A streak that continued during the first three games of the last round, allowing Richard Gasquet to lead three games to one. After saving two break points, the Habs concluded the game on their serve (7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in 2h22′). Seeded number 1, Félix Auger-Aliassime did not have many difficulties to overcome Elliot Benchetrit (6-3, 6-3 in 1h24 ‘) and will find Alex Molcan, who beat Stefano Travaglia (6- 0, 6-4 in 1h17′) when Botic van de Zandschulp, sixth in the hierarchy, had more difficulty against Hugo Dellien (6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in 2h29’). Federico Delbonis, seeded number 5, had less success and lost to João Sousa (6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in 2h29 ‘), who will find Roberto Carballes Baena in the next round. The Spaniard dismissed Marco Cecchinato (7-5, 7-6 in 1h33 ‘). Daniel Evans, seeded number 2, will not go further than this first round after his defeat against Pablo Andujar (6-4, 6-2 in 1h40 ‘).
MARRAKECH (Morocco, ATP 250, clay, €534,555)
Defending champion (in 2019): Benoit Paire (FRA)
Round of 16
Auger-Aliassime (CAN, n°1, WC) – Molcan (SLQ)
Zapata Miralles (ESP, LL) ou Kopriva (RTC, Q) – Van de Zandschulp (PBS, n°6)
Musetti (ITA) – Taberner (ESP)
Jaziri (TUN, WC) – Djere (SER, n ° 8)
Coria (ARG) – Majchrzak (POL) or Basic (BOS, Q)
Gasquet (FRA) – Kotov (RUS, Q) ou Griekspoor (PBS)
Sousa (POR) – Carballes Baena (ESP)
Goffin (BEL) or Dzumhur (BOS, Q) – Andujar (ESP)
1st round
Auger-Aliassime (CAN, n°1, WC) bat Benchetrit (MAR, WC) : 6-3, 6-3
Molcan (SLQ) bat Travaglia (ITA): 6-0, 6-4
Zapata Miralles (ESP, LL) – Kopriva (RTC, Q)
Van de Zandschulp (PBS, n°6) bat Dellien (BOL): 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
Musetti (ITA) beat Ramos-Viñolas (ESP, No. 4): 7-6 (5), 6-1
Taberner (ESP) bat Hanfmann (ALL) : 6-2, 1-0 abandon
Jaziri (TUN, WC) bat Vesely (RTC) : 6-7 (6), 6-3, 2-0 abandon
Djere (SER, n ° 8) bat Lehecka (RTC) : 6-4, 6-4
Coria (ARG) bat Davidovich Fokina (ESP, n°7) : 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
Majchrzak (POL) – Basic (BOS, Q)
Gasquet (FRA) bat Laaksonen (SUI): 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
Kotov (RUS, Q) – Griekspoor (PBS)
Souza ( POR) bat Delbonis (ARG, n°5) : 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
Carballes Baena (ESP) bat Cecchinato (ITA): 7-5, 7-6 (1)
Goffin (BEL) – Dzumhur (BOS, Q)
Andujar (ESP) bat Evans (GBR, n°2) : 6-4, 6-2
