Match Report
Gasquet wins on last Metz look: ‘It is the place it began’
Norrie, Herbert, Struff advance at indoor hard-court ATP 250
November 04, 2024
Moselle Open
Richard Gasquet turns into the second-oldest match-winner in Metz event historical past.
By Jerome Coombe
It felt as if it was a full-circle second for Richard Gasquet on Monday on the Moselle Open.
The 38-year-old, who made the primary of his 33 ATP Tour finals in Metz, secured an exciting opening-round comeback in opposition to Thiago Monteiro to remain alive in his last marketing campaign on the event. Gasquet saved a match level to prevail 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(6) and report his first tour-level win since Might.
“It’s vital for me to play right here, it’s the final time I’m enjoying in Metz, so I wish to do properly,” mentioned Gasquet, who’s retiring on the conclusion of Roland Garros 2025. “It’s a giant honour for me [to receive a wild card].
“I’m actually pleased with the way in which I performed, the way in which I felt, so it’s a giant win for me. Every little thing began right here [in Metz]. It’s the place I reached my first ATP Tour last. I’ve nice reminiscences enjoying right here, so I’m actually pleased with the way in which I performed at present.”
Resilience personified 👏@richardgasquet1 completes a miraculous comeback, saving a MP, shifting previous 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 previous No. 7 within the PIF ATP Rankings, produced a scientific efficiency on serve all through the match. The wild card, nevertheless, was significantly dialled in throughout the last set, throughout which he gained 19 out of 20 factors behind his first supply, in response to Infosys ATP Stats.
After bettering to 16-10 in Metz, Gasquet will face #NextGenATP star Alex Michelsen within the second spherical.
Elsewhere, Cameron Norrie battled from the brink of defeat to report his first tour-level win since July. The 29-year-old trailed a break within the deciding set, however dug deep for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Roberto Carballes Baena.
“I used to be pleased with the way in which I turned it round, it’s good to get a win after my harm,” mentioned Norrie who picked up a forearm harm that saved him out of the Olympics and the North American hard-court swing.
“He fought actually exhausting at present, he’s an awesome competitor. I managed to get just a little bit fortunate within the third set, and I had some good help. It was good to recover from the road ultimately.”
Norrie, who’s simply the second British singles participant in Metz event historical past (Andy Murray, 2007 & 2021), will subsequent face third seed Grigor Dimitrov.
On a day of French success, fortunate loser Pierre-Hugues Herbert stood agency to defeat sixth seed Pedro Martinez 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4). The 33-year-old’s triumph within the pair’s maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head collection 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 subsequent battle countryman Quentin Halys within the second spherical.
Seventh seed Jan-Lennard Struff obtained his marketing campaign underway with an impressed comeback triumph in opposition to Alexander Shevchenko. The German trailed by a set and 3-0, however dug deep for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win, organising a second-round conflict with Corentin Moutet.