Tennis – ATP – Metz: This time, it’s over for Barrère

Published on November 4, 2024 at 3:30 p.m.

Aurélien Canot

Grégoire Barrère failed to seize his second chance. Originally, the Parisian should not have been part of the programming for this second day of the Metz tournament. And for good reason: if the 166th in the ranking, forced to go through the qualifications of this Moselle Open, had successfully overcome the first obstacle to appear on his way, namely Luca Van Assche, to whom he had not even left a set (6-3, 6-4 victory), he then came up against another compatriot: Quentin Halys. Beaten sharply by the 84th in the world, Barrère could then only do one thing: cross his fingers to take advantage of a possible package which would allow him to be part of the main draw despite this defeat against Halys. And that is precisely what happened, thus giving the recent semi-finalist of the Saint-Brieuc Challenger tournament, where he lost to future winner Benjamin Bonzi, the opportunity to offer himself a second opportunity. Barrère did not succeed.

Two breaks too many for Barrère

Opposed to Lorenzo Sonego, who had taken the front door in Paris (defeat against Nicolas Jarry), where he in turn had to go through the qualifications, the ex-member of the Top 50 was not unworthy against the Italian. However, he was defeated in two sets (6-4, 7-5) after 1h21 of play. Sonego made the difference for the first time by signing the first break while leading 5-4 in the first set. In the next, Barrère took the lead by seizing his opponent’s serve for the first time, from the first game. Unfortunately for the native of Charenton-le-Pont, he was unable to maintain his advantage in the beyond the next… game. And like what happened in the first set, the Italian made the 30-year-old French player give in in the very last games, to finally win this second set with a score of 7-5 .