Richard Gasquet needed four sets to defeat Spaniard Marcel Granollers at Wimbledon on court 12. The seventh seed won 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-1. He faces another Spaniard in Albert Ramos-Vinolas who defeated Viktor Troicki earlier in the day.
Gasquet starts strong, fades away loses set
Gasquet was immediately put under pressure. In the second game, he was forced to save two points as he got on the board at 1-1. With the score at 2-2, Gasquet raced away to a love-40 lead before having all three saved. However, the Spaniard was dominating the rallies and eventually the Spaniard put a slice wide and the Frenchman went 3-2 up.
Gasquet then consolidated. With the score at 4-3, Granollers won three straight points and had break points on the 29-year-olds serve. After saving two, the world number 41 then broke then consolidated and the set was levelled at 4-4. The world number ten then got tight towards the end and at 30-40, he double faulted gifting the set to Granollers 6-4.
Gasquet levels match
At this point, Gasquet was looking annoyed and frustrated, constantly looking up at his box and lowering his head. The two players couldn't be separated although Gasquet was dominating the rallies getting on the front foot each time. With the game at 4-4, the Spaniard won the next three points in the game, forcing the error from the two-time semifinalist. Both players then held their serve relatively easy. And with the set moving to 5-5, Gasquet fashioned a break point opportunity at 40-30.
The Spaniard saved the break point, but the Frenchman had a second chance to go ahead in the game after forcing the error from the Spaniard's forehand side. Gasquet hit a volley winner to break and after an hour and a half, the tables were beginning to turn in this match. With Gasquet serving for the match, the-30-year-old had other ideas and went 15-40 up. Gasquet then saved both points, but once again Granollers fashioned a third break point, which was saved. The world number ten then had two set points of his own saved before clinching the set 7-5 with a forehand winner.
Gasquet steps up; goes two sets to one up
After a shaky start, Gasquet was looking like the player who had made two semifinals at the All England Club. With the score at 2-2, Gasquet went love-40 up and having had one point saved, the number seven seed then forced the error from Granollers and went ahead at 3-2. The Frenchman then held serve and consolidated and was looking strong once again.
After a couple of games with the score at 5-3, Gasquet had his first set point of the game. However, Granollers managed to save the point and send the game to deuce. The Spaniard went on to save two more break points before Gasquet forced the error from Granollers to go 6-3 up and two sets to one.
Gasquet clinches victory
The Frenchman was in full control of the match and was looking strong. He held his opening service game to get the fourth set underway. In the following game, Granollers was forced to save two break points before the 29-year-old hit his trademark backhand down the line at advantage to go 2-0 up. Granollers then tried to break straight back, but Gasquet saved both the break points he faced and dug deep to hold for 3-0 as he continued the good start.
The fourth game would see Granollers get on the board for the first time in the set at 3-1. At 4-1, Gasquet attacked the world number 41 from the off and got his reward when he hit a forehand volley winner to go 5-1 up. The Frenchman forced then sealed the victory and booked his spot in the third round where he will face another Spaniard.