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Richard Gasquet wins in final Metz appearance | ATP Tour
Match Report
Gasquet wins on final Metz appearance: ‘It’s where it all started’
Herbert, Struff advance at indoor hard-court ATP 250
November 04, 2024
Moselle Open
Richard Gasquet becomes the second-oldest match-winner in Metz tournament history.
By Jerome Coombe
It felt as if it was a full-circle moment for Richard Gasquet on Monday at the Moselle Open.
The 38-year-old, who made the first of his 33 ATP Tour finals in Metz, secured a thrilling opening-round comeback against Thiago Monteiro to stay alive in his final campaign at the tournament. Gasquet saved a match point to prevail 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(6) and record his first tour-level win since May.
“It’s important for me to play here, it’s the last time I’m playing in Metz, so I want to do well,” said Gasquet, who is retiring at the conclusion of Roland Garros 2025. “It’s a big honour for me [to receive a wild card].
“I am really happy with the way I played, the way I felt, so it’s a big win for me. Everything started here [in Metz]. It’s where I reached my first ATP Tour final. I have great memories playing here, so I am really happy with the way I played today.”
Resilience personified 👏@richardgasquet1 completes a miraculous comeback, saving a MP, moving past Monteiro in a three-set thriller 4-6 6-4 7-6(6)! @MoselleOpen | #MoselleOpen pic.twitter.com/tMVDRarI7l
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 4, 2024
Gasquet, the former No. 7 in the PIF ATP Rankings, produced a clinical performance on serve throughout the match. The wild card, however, was particularly dialled in during the final set, during which he won 19 out of 20 points behind his first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
After improving to 16-10 in Metz, Gasquet will face #NextGenATP star Alex Michelsen in the second round.
On a day of French success, lucky loser Pierre-Hugues Herbert stood firm to defeat sixth seed Pedro Martinez 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4). The 33-year-old’s triumph in the pair’s maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head series was his first tour-level win since reaching the semi-finals in Metz as a wild card in 2023.
Aiming to emulate that success, Herbert will next battle countryman Quentin Halys in the second round.
Seventh seed Jan-Lennard Struff got his campaign underway with an inspired comeback triumph against Alexander Shevchenko. The German trailed by a set and 3-0, but dug deep for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win, setting up a second-round clash with Corentin Moutet.
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