Richard Gasquet took full advantage of an error-filled performance from Denis Shapovalov to reach the second round of the Paris Masters 6-4 7-6(3).
In what proved a surprising tune of events, Shapovalov started briskly asserting himself on the Frenchman to leap into a 3-0 lead, only for his game to fall apart, especially his serve as the number of double faults increased allowing Gaasquet to string together five consecutive games.
Having made 18 unforced errors including five double faults, Shapovalov having managed to hold serve, then conceded the first after 44-minutes.
Th 19-year-old Canadian tightened his game up for the second to again take command and lead 4-1 but Gasquet recovered his poise to level and go on and force a tie breaker where je kept his composure to claim the win on his first match point.
Earlier in the day, Russian Karen Khachanov began his campaign with a 7-5 6-2 win over last year’s runner-up Filip Krajinovic.
Khachanov, who won the Kremlin Cup earlier this month, recovered from 3-5 down and saved a set point to battle past his Serbian opponent in 75 minutes.
Further Reading
The men play for Wimbledon’s pineapple
They make their appearances over the final weekend of The Championships and are highly prized - the five Wimbledon Trophies, one of which proudly displays an unlikely pineapple on the top - but, sadly, will not be on show this year.
Serbian Prime Minister, Gomez and Tipsarevic enter the debate
The fall out of the Adria Tour continues as many struggle to find someone to lay the blame on. In the main that someone is Novak Djokovic who led the campaign for this mini circuit and as it has been repeatedly said, his intentions were good and it had the backing of...
Watson joins Progress Tour Women’s Championships field
Heather Watson has accepted a wildcard and will compete alongside GB Fed Cup teammates Harriet Dart and Katie Boulter at next month’s £30,000 Progress Tour Women’s Championships at the National Tennis Centre.
Wimbledon’s green grass of home
The courts at Wimbledon are lush and green but absent are the world’s best players, who should be completing the first round of matches today had The Championships not been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s the ‘doughnut’ versus the ‘rat’
Nick Kyrgios and Boris Becker have got themselves embroiled in a major bust-up over Alexander Zverev’s recent escapade, namely caught on video partying after the cancellation of the Adria Tour which left a number of players and staff testing positive for the Covid-19...
