On the Pietrangeli court at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, Richard Gasquet defeated home favorite and the last standing male Italian Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the third round, where he will face Kei Nishikori of Japan for the second tournament in a row following their meeting in Madrid just last week.
Gasquet wins set despite an attem pted comeback
Gasquet held his opening service game to love, then in the following game put his stamp on the match and broke to love, which was then consolidated. In the next game, the Frenchman once again had a break point chance and despite not putting it away, Gasquet did go up a double break on his second break point to assert his dominance in the match. The 29-year-old held and went 5-0 up on the Italian who thus far had an error-filled set.
Seppi avoided the bagel and held, and then in the following game, he woke up along with the crowd and broke the Frenchman who was serving for the opener. Seppi for the first time showed a bit of aggression as he tried to mount a comeback. The world number 42 held and gave Gasquet another chance at serving it out at 5-3. Having failed once already, Gasquet didn't have any problems this time around and took the opening set 6-3.
Gasquet wins second set, books spot in next round
Having ended the first set positively, Seppi would double-fault and hand Gasquet a break point chance, which was converted due to an unforced error and the momentum was full with the world number 12 early in the second. The Frenchman consolidated for 2-0 and the next game saw Gasquet with another double break opportunity after Seppi hit a wild forehand. However, despite the Italian saving both break points, the 29-year-old would convert one at advantage thanks to a double-fault from the 32-year-old. Gasquet held and just like the first set, he was in control going 4-0 up. Seppi finally got on the scoreboard in the set at 4-1.
Seppi broke in the next game at 15-40 when a shot was confirmed in after it hit the line. The double break would become just the single break when Seppi held to the Italian fans' delight. The crowd would come alive again in the match when their home player forced a double break chance, however Gasquet would deny the 32-year-old as he held for 5-3. The Frenchman wrong-footed the Italian and the first match point came about, which was saved. Seppi held and the set moved to 5-4 with the Frenchman serving for a place in round three. Gasquet served up an ace to reach his second match point, which was converted and he went through to round three 6-3, 6-4.
Match stats
Gasquet served two aces and one double fault while Seppi served three aces and double-faulted five times. The Frenchman was impressive on serve, winning 70 percent on his first serve and 63 behind his second. Seppi was quite as impressive on his first, winning 65 percent of those points, but on his second he struggled only managing to win 42 percent.
Gasquet saved half of break points he faced and converted four from nine (44 percent) while his Italian opponent had to work harder saving five out of nine and converting half of his break points. The 29-year-old was less than impressive on his first serve return points won only managing to win 34 percent, but on his second he improved winning 58 percent. The Frenchman won 56 percent of total points.