Claycourt machine Rafa Nadal celebrated his thirty fifth birthday by handing his longtime pal Richard Gasquet a 6-0, 7-5, 6-2 masterclass as he stormed into the third round of the French Open on Thursday (June 3). Thirteen-time Roland Garros champion Nadal confirmed no mercy as he demolished the Frenchman for the seventeenth time in as {many professional} encounters.
Gasquet beat Nadal within the semi-finals of the Under-14 Tournoi des Petits As in 1999, however since then has at all times emerged second finest of their encounters. The Spaniard has by no means been troubled by the Frenchman`s single-handed backhand and produced a ruthless show as he took a step nearer in his pursuit of a male report twenty first Grand Slam singles title.
Thursday’s match, scheduled within the evening session, was performed in an empty Philippe Chatrier stadium due to the native 9pm curfew amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Gasquet solely managed 9 factors within the opening set as he misplaced seven video games in a row, being completely overwhelmed by Nadal`s high spin and his forehands down the road.
Gasquet, who reached a profession excessive world quantity seven again in 2007, put up a combat within the second set however even that was not sufficient to rattle Nadal. The Frenchman nudged to a 5-4 lead with a splendid service return, however Nadal earned one other break within the twelfth sport to take a two-set lead.
A extra relaxed Gasquet unleashed some pleasant backhands, however Nadal broke for 4-2 within the decider as his opponent began to run out of steam, and by no means regarded again to arrange a gathering with Britain’s Cameron Norrie. Improving his Roland Garros report to a jaw dropping 102-2, Nadal has not dropped a set right here since beating Dominic Thiem within the 2019 closing.
Gasquet’s defeat ended a woeful event for the French contingent as he was the final native favorite standing, which means no French male or feminine participant shall be within the third round at Roland Garros for the primary time since tennis turned skilled in 1968. It is the primary time since Wimbledon 2007 that no native participant options within the third round of their residence Grand Slam.
