Richard Gasquet saved a match point in his 4-6 6-4 7-6 (8-6) win over Thiago Monteiro 4-6 6-4 7-6 (8-6) at the Moselle Open in Metz to achieve his first tour level win since May.
Gasquet improved his record this season to 16 wins to 10 defeats. The former world number 7 fired 14 aces and won 49 of his 55 first serve points.
Monteiro earned his first break in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead and served out the first set with a hold at 15 in the next game. Both players went on serve until the 10th game when Gasquet broke serve at deuce to win the second set 6-4 forcing the match to decider.
Gasquet and Monteiro held on their service games en route to the tie-break. Monteiro earned an early mini-break at the start of the tie-break. Gasquet won four of his next five points to take a 4-2 lead, but Monteiro pulled back on serve before earning a match point at 6-5. Gasquet saved the match point and won three points to clinch the tie-break 8-6.
Gasquet is planning to retire at the conclusion of Roland Garros 2025.
“It’s important to play here. It’s the last time I am playing in Metz, so I want to do well. 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 Final. I have great memories playing here, so I am really happy with the way I played today”, said Gasquet.
Cameron Norrie rallied from a break down in the third set to beat Roberto Carballes Baena 3-6 6-4 6-3. Carballes Baena broke serve at 15 to win the win the first set 6-3. The Spanish player converted his fifth break point in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead in the second set. Norrie broke straight back to love in the sixth game to 3-3. Carballes Baena saved two break points in the eighth game before Norrie sealed the second set with a break on his first set point.
Norrie fended off four break points in the first game of the third set. Carballes Baena broke serve in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead, but Norrie dug deep by winning the final four games with two breaks of serve to clinch the decider 6-3. Norrie has claimed his first tour-level win since July. He suffered from a injury that sidelined him from the Olympic Games in Paris and the North American hard-court swing.
Norrie set up a second round match against Grigor Dimitrov.
“I was happy with the way I turned it around. It’s nice to get a win after the injury. He fought really hard. He is a grea competitor. I managed to get a bit lucky in the third set “, said Norrie.
