Richard Gasquet earned his first Top 10 win since Montreal in 2019 on Thursday when he battled past World No. 10 Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals of the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon.
"Diego is one of the best players, of course he’s Top 10 in the world, so it’s a great performance for me. I played really well. I had nothing to lose. It was a very tough match, but I know him, I tried to play my best level," Gasquet said. "Of course I tried to play offensive… I’m very happy."
The 34-year-old, who won one of his 15 ATP Tour titles in Lyon in 2006 on indoor carpet, is pursuing his first trophy since 's-Hertogenbosch in 2018. He will challenge big-hitting eighth seed Karen Khachanov for a place in the semi-finals.
[WATCH LIVE 1]
For a moment, it appeared Gasquet might stumble. The former World No. 7 let slip two match points as he served for the match at 5-4 in the second set. But he immediately broke again in the next game — his fifth service break of the match — and closed out his victory after one hour and 36 minutes.
Gasquet now leads Schwartzman 4-1 in their ATP Head2Head series. Before this clash, Schwartzman had won 13 consecutive sets against Frenchmen dating back to his most recent loss against Gasquet in Cincinnati in 2019.
Another French veteran, Gael Monfils, was unable to advance. Japanese lefty Yoshihito Nishioka upset the fifth seed 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(2) after two hours and 18 minutes. The 25-year-old is into his first quarter-final off of hard courts. Nishioka will play second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or American Tommy Paul next.
"Diego is one of the best players, of course he’s Top 10 in the world, so it’s a great performance for me. I played really well. I had nothing to lose. It was a very tough match, but I know him, I tried to play my best level," Gasquet said. "Of course I tried to play offensive… I’m very happy."
The 34-year-old, who won one of his 15 ATP Tour titles in Lyon in 2006 on indoor carpet, is pursuing his first trophy since 's-Hertogenbosch in 2018. He will challenge big-hitting eighth seed Karen Khachanov for a place in the semi-finals.
[WATCH LIVE 1]
For a moment, it appeared Gasquet might stumble. The former World No. 7 let slip two match points as he served for the match at 5-4 in the second set. But he immediately broke again in the next game — his fifth service break of the match — and closed out his victory after one hour and 36 minutes.
Gasquet now leads Schwartzman 4-1 in their ATP Head2Head series. Before this clash, Schwartzman had won 13 consecutive sets against Frenchmen dating back to his most recent loss against Gasquet in Cincinnati in 2019.
Another French veteran, Gael Monfils, was unable to advance. Japanese lefty Yoshihito Nishioka upset the fifth seed 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(2) after two hours and 18 minutes. The 25-year-old is into his first quarter-final off of hard courts. Nishioka will play second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or American Tommy Paul next.