Lopez & Davydenko lose in Montpellier while Ljubicic is ousted in Zageb.

Fourth seed Richard Gasquet booked his place in the quarter-finals of the Sud de France Open in Montpellier with a 6-3 6-4 win over Russian wild card Nikolay Davydenko. Gasquet needed one hour and 26 minutes to complete his win and reach the last eight where he will meet Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber, who beat Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-4 7-5. There was further French success with second seed Gilles Simon overcoming Italy’s Flavio Cipolla 6-3 6-2, while wild card Guillaume Rufin was a surprise 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 winner over fifth seed Feliciano Lopez.

Top seed and home favourite Ivan Ljubicic crashed out of the Zagreb Indoors in Croatia after falling 6-4 6-4 in his second round match against Germany’s world number 105 Michael Berrer. Austrian qualifier Jurgen Melzer will play Berrer in the quarter-finals after defeating Italian fifth seed Andreas Seppi 6-2 6-3. Melzer, who needed just over an hour to progress, saved all but one of six break points against him.

Seventh seed Robin Haase beat Matthias Bachinger 7-6 (7/4) 3-6 6-3 while in first round action there were wins for Dudi Sela, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Grega Zemlja and fourth seed Ivan Dodig.

France defeats China on day one of the Hopman Cup.

Li Na did her bit but it wasn’t enough to lift China to victory in their Hopman Cup teams tennis clash with France in Perth on Saturday. Li came from a set down to defeat world No.9 Marion Bartoli 2-6 6-2 6-4 in the women’s singles but was forced to watch on helplessly as compatriot Wu Di was crushed 6-1 6-3 by Richard Gasquet in the men’s singles. France then romped to victory in the deciding mixed doubles, with Bartoli and Gasquet needing just 42 minutes to sweep to the 6-1 6-1 triumph. Earlier, Bartoli appeared on track for a straight-sets win in the women’s singles after taking the first set in 44 minutes before setting up two break points early in the second set. But Li, who has struggled to recapture top form since winning the French Open earlier this year, showed far more urgency from that point on, winning the last four games of the second set before grinding down Bartoli in the decider.

“At the beginning of the match she was playing so fast. I was like ‘what’s going on’,” Li said. “But after three or four games I got used to it.” Li said her French Open success in May had changed her life in so many ways, but may have also adversely affected her performances. “If I go somewhere to play a tournament, more people know who I am. I lose concentration on the court. I’m only focusing on the photo shooting,” she said with a laugh. “It’s tough after winning a big title, (maintaining) the concentration.”

Australia’s unseeded pairing of Lleyton Hewitt and Jarmila Gajdosova kick off their campaign on Sunday against third-seeded Spaniards Fernando Verdasco and Anabel Medina Garrigues.

Djokovic and Federer set more records as they both move on to the final eight.

Richard Gasquet was no match for Novak Djokovic at the French Open on Sunday as the Serb made it 43 wins in a row. The in-form French hope had been tipped in some quarters to cause Djokovic problems in their fourth-round clash, especially with the second seed playing for a third successive day, but just like all the other opponents who have faced Djokovic this season, he came off second best. The Australian Open champion was again in sparkling form as he eased to a 6-4 6-4 6-2 victory on Court Philippe Chatrier. He has now won 43 consecutive matches – taking him within three of Guillermo Vilas’ all-time best winning streak of 46. He will equal that mark if he wins the title in Paris. Djokovic, who only needs to reach the final to usurp Rafael Nadal as world number one, was rarely in any danger against Gasquet. He cracked 34 winners to the Frenchman’s 16 and saved all three break points he faced.

Roger Federer booked his place in a record-breaking 28th successive Grand Slam quarter-final by beating Stanislas Wawrinka at the French Open. Federer saw off the man who partnered him to Olympic doubles gold 6-3 6-2 7-5 to move past Jimmy Connors’ mark of 27 consecutive Grand Slam quarter finals. The last time the Swiss great did not reach the last eight of one of the four majors was at Roland Garros in 2004. Another quarter-final appearance was never really in doubt on Sunday, with the 16-time Grand Slam champion on top from the outset. With Federer having won eight of the pair’s nine previous meetings it was no great surprise.

 

 

Gasquet topples Federer to reach the final eight in Rome.

Federer’s hopes of spending more time on the clay courts ahead of the French Open, which starts on 22 May, were dashed by Gasquet, who came from a set down to beat the Swiss 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 for the first time since 2005. The Frenchman lost the first 10 points of the match, but hit back to win the next 10 as they shared the first six games. But Federer made the crucial break in game seven and when he broke again in game five of the second set, a straightforward victory looked likely. However, Gasquet broke back and took the set to a tie-break which he won with a service winner. The final set also went to a tie-break and this time, Federer missed the line with a forehand to set up match point before sending a backhand long to gift Gasquet the win. “I had a lot of good chances at a set, 4-3 and serving and then at 4-4 and 15-40 (on Gasquet’s serve),” said Federer.

“It was tough to play out there, it was a slippery court. Richard started to play better as the match went on. In particular he was serving better, my level went down and Richard made it worse. “It was tough, I never felt I was probably going to win the (third set) breaker, it’s not fun to play that way.”

 

Gaequet defeats Roddick 6-3, 7-6 to move ahead to face Djokovic.

Richard Gasquet needed one hour and 45 minutes to knock out World No. 8 and returning finalist Andy Roddick, 6-3, 7-6(5). Roddick staged a late comeback after falling behind a set and a break, getting back on serve at 4-all in the second set and earning three set points in the 12th game. Gasquet held to force a tie-break, and clinched the victory with a backhand winner off of Roddick’s serve. “I was playing incredible to [lead] 6-4, 4-2. I had double break point, but I didn’t [convert],” said Gasquet. “After, I fought a lot; he played more aggressive, and it was tough for me to finish the match. I am really happy with the backhand return.”

Roddick, who was looking to reach the quarter-finals for a seventh time in Indian Wells, said: “I think he outplayed me from the first ball. He was obviously very confident… I tried to force it and be more aggressive in the second, but when you play that way, it starts coming in bunches. You win in bunches and you lose in bunches. So it’s a little bit inconsistent. I think it caught up to me a little bit in the tie-breaker.”

Gasquet, a former World No. 7, is through to the quarter-finals for the first time at the BNP Paribas Open and was excited about the prospect of playing the in-form Djokovic. “I played with him in practice one week ago,” he said. “He played unbelievable, too. He’s a favorite of the match, for sure. I’m confident I can play a great match. I think I can play well in a big match against him. I feel confident, so I have nothing to lose. This is the best way to play a good match.”

“I was just trying to fight off returns and do what I could and put the ball in the courts. It was enough.” says Andy.

On Tuesday night  Roddick re-established order as he comfortably defeated the fourth-highest ranked American 7-5, 6-2 in 67 minutes. “It’s tough playing it because you know the pressure is on me when I play him,” said the top American. “That’s just the way it is, so sure, it is uneasy but I like it. One of the things that keeps me going is trying to maintain my place.” Roddick broke for a 6-5 lead in the first set and opened the second with another break. He finished the night by going 3 for 3 on his break point chances, while conceding just seven points on serve. “Going 3 for 3 on break points against him is not normal,” said Roddick. “I don’t think he played that well tonight. I think he felt a little uncomfortable. I was just trying to fight off returns and do what I could and put the ball in the courts. It was enough.”

Roddick, a finalist last year in Indian Wells, will next face Frenchman Richard Gasquet. The No. 18 seed advanced to the fourth round for a fourth time in Indian Wells as he eased past World No. 10 Jurgen Melzer 6-1, 6-3 in 61 minutes on Stadium 2.

Verdasco, Berdych and Roddick need points in Paris!

Richard Gasquet set up a second-round meeting with world number two Roger Federer with a win over fellow countryman Nicolas Mahut in the Paris Masters on Monday night. The 24-year-old, a former world number seven, needed all three sets to get past his compatriot, eventually prevailing 7-5 4-6 7-6 (9/7). He must now face Federer, fresh from his Swiss Indoors win over Novak Djokovic, in the next round on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the crowd had seen two more of their own secure their passage through as Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra both won their games. Clement progressed after prevailing in a three-setter with Spain’s Feliciano Lopez. He did so despite Lopez sending down 30 aces, and losing the first set, with Lopez winning a tie break 10-8. Clement hit back to take the second set on a tie break of his own, and the 32-year-old closed out the victory with a 6-3 win in the third, to take the match 6-7 (8/10) 7-6 (9/7) 6-3. He will meet another Spaniard, the sixth seed Fernando Verdasco, in the next round.

Llodra, the world number 34, was thoroughly impressive in his despatching of Italian Potito Starace, dropping just five games as he ran out a 6-4 6-1 victor. “It was quite good for my confidence to win,” said Llodra afterwards.

“Since the surface is quite fast, we need to get accustomed to it. So in the beginning I wasn’t doing so well, but after I understood that playing slice shots was quite efficient.” Llodra will now face John Isner in the second round.

Another winner was world number 63 Jarkko Nieminen, with the Finn getting the better of Xavier Malisse, 24 places ahead of him, 6-4 6-3 to set up a clash with number eight seed Andy Roddick.

Spaniard David Ferrer, who won the Valencia Open on Sunday and is on the brink of qualifying for the ATP World Tour Finals in London, lies in wait for Italy’s Fabio Fognini, the qualifier who beat Michael Berrer 7-5 3-6 6-4.

The number 12 seed Gael Monfils will come up against Benjamin Becker after he saw off Denis Istomin 6-4 6-4 and Radek Stepanek had little trouble in brushing past Michael Russell 6-0 6-2 to put himself up against Nicolas Almagro.

Santiago Giraldo of Colombia also earned himself a place in the second round, beating Thiemo de Bakker to set up a contest with Jurgen Melzer. In the day’s final game, Federer’s compatriot, Stanislas Wawrinka, saw off the challenge of another home player, Josselin Ouanna, 6-3 7-5.

Gasquet destroys Davydenko in straight sets.

France’s Richard Gasquet produced a superb performance to send sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko crashing out of the US Open in the second round.

Gasquet, who won the junior title at Flushing Meadows in 2002, claimed his first grand slam win of the year in the first round after early exits in Australia and Paris and missing Wimbledon with a rib injury.

And the enigmatic 24-year-old carried on where he had left off against Germany’s Simon Greul, dismissing Davydenko by the same scoreline of 6-3 6-4 6-2.

Davydenko, who missed 11 weeks of the season after breaking his wrist in March, is the highest seed to fall in New York so far, joining seventh seed Tomas Berdych and ninth seed Andy Roddick in making an early exit.

Almagro wins another title in Gataad.

Nicolas Almagro continued to light up the post-Wimbledon clay-court swing as he won his second trophy in three weeks with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Richard Gasquet Sunday in the final of the Allianz Suisse Open Gstaad.

As champion of the ATP World Tour 250 clay-court tennis tournament, Almagro received 250 South African Airways 2010 ATP Ranking points and €68,450, while Gasquet earned 150 points and €35,980 in prize money.

Almagro’s victory in Gstaad follows hot on the heels of his triumph in Bastad two weeks ago, when he snapped a 17-month title drought with victory over home favourite Robin Soderling in the final. The Spaniard improved to a 7-2 mark in ATP World Tour finals, each one coming on clay. It is the second time he has won two ATP World Tour titles in the same year, having also done so in 2008 at Acapulco and Costa do Sauipe during the Latin American “Golden Swing”.

Gasquet runs out of gas to let Murray win in 5 sets.

Andy Murray battled back from two sets down to beat Richard Gasquet in the first round of the French Open.

Gasquet proved every bit as tough an opening opponent as predicted but as the Frenchman tired, the Scot got stronger, sealing a 4-6 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-2 6-1 victory in four hours and four minutes.

Murray must now recover sufficiently to take on old foe Juan Igancio Chela of Argentina in the second round, but the manner of his win on Court Suzanne Lenglen should aid the recovery process.

Gasquet had arrived in Paris on the back of a 10-match unbeaten run on clay and he picked up where he had left off when beating world number nine Fernando Verdasco in Nice on Saturday. His request to the Tournament Director for an additional day of rest was declined, and it probably cost him the match.

Three break points went begging as early as game four, one wasted with a poor drop shot, but when Gasquet fended off a break point himself with an ace in game seven and followed up with a gorgeous backhand down the line it was clear he was the man in charge.

Murray was outplayed in the first 2 sets and should take very little satisfaction from his performance today. He cut a frustrated figure for much of the opening set and a poor volley and a double-fault saw him facing set point in game 10 – at which point he chose to serve-volley for the first time in the match, the volley ending up in the net.

Gasquet had the first opportunity in the second set but played a bizarre forehand slice that floated long at break point in game four, while Murray could only watch as yet another blistering backhand flew past him when the Scot had his chance in the following game.

Murray’s frustration with himself deepened considerably when he double-faulted to hand Gasquet break point in game five but he got out of trouble with a succession of rasping forehands.

Gasquet retained the initiative, however, and came desperately close to a two-set lead when a running forehand pass went just long on set point at 6-5, but after twice letting two-point leads slip in the ensuing tie-break he wrapped it up with a cross-court forehand and a sharp half-volley.

Gasquet required treatment at both the start and end of a fourth set that would not be such a battle – Murray rattling through it in half an hour with two breaks as the Gasquet backhands began to miss their target, while the physically stronger Briton started to dictate matters from inside the baseline.