Gasquet off to winning start in Montreal
Date published :
09 Aug 2011 - 20:30:05
Frenchman Richard Gasquet produced a repeat of his July Davis Cup victory over Florian Mayer as he sent the German out in the opening round of the ATP Montreal Masters 6-3, 6-2 on Tuesday.
A month ago, the tenth-seeded Gasquet won their Davis Cup encounter in Stuttgart after the 23rd-ranked Mayer served for the match at 5-4 in the fifth set.
The 13th-ranked Gasquet, playing his first hardcourt match since late March, won with six aces, saving all five of the break points he faced, to book a second round tie with Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci.
Gasquet was pleased to get off to a winning start against a tricky opponent.
"I played well, 6-3, 6-2 against a good guy, 23rd in the world. It's a good victory for me," said Gasquet.
The Frenchman said he took ten days break after helping France into the Davis Cup semis, where they face a September date with Spain.
"I was anxious, I hadn't played for a long time. I'm starting to play again here," said Gasquet.
"I served well. It was a good match on hardcourt from me, so I'm happy."
Gasquet won his only previous tie with Bellucci in the third round at Roland Garros.
"He's a tough guy and I remember I played a very good match against him. But I know he's powerful. He's a left-hander and very talented.
"It's a big match. To win against him, I really have to play a great match. So it will be tough."
Qualifier Philipp Petzschner took immediate revenge for Germany at the first major event of the US Open summer run-up with his knockout of French ninth seed Gilles Simon 7-5, 6-2 as the Hamburg clay finalist fell flat in his hardcourt start.
Second round play was starting for seeds, with two-time champion and holder Andy Murray facing South African Kevin Anderson and Novak Djokovic playing his first match as world number one when he takes on Russian Nikolay Davydenko.
