ATP Madrid: Gasquet set Roger Federer clash. Khachanov and Monfils advance
Competing for the first time since Paris Masters last year, Richard Gasquet has made a winning start of the season after a tight 7-5, 7-6 triumph over the young Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in just under two hours. This was the 131st Masters 1000 win for Gasquet who is now in the top-15 on the all-time list, moving ahead of Jim Courier who stayed on 130 and standing two behind Carlos Moya. Alejandro gave his best on Masters 1000 debut in front of the home fans, winning just two points fewer than Gasquet after saving six out of nine break points.
After two good holds on both sides, they traded four breaks in the next five games to stay neck and neck until game 12 when Alejandro sprayed a forehand error to hand the opener to the Frenchman after an hour. There were no breaks in set number two and nothing separated them in the tie break as well before the crucial mini-break for Gasquet at 5-5, closing the match in the next point to avoid the decider and spending more time on the court. Gael Monfils secured the 98th Masters 1000 triumph with a dominant 6-3, 6-1 win over Andreas Seppi in 55 minutes, hitting 15 winners and 17 unforced errors and losing only nine points on serve to keep the pressure on the Italian all the time.
Landing less than 50% of the first serve in, Seppi struggled to impose his shots and take the rhythm away from Monfils, facing 11 break points and suffering five breaks to propel the rival through in less than an hour. Gael converted the fourth break point in game two when Andreas sent a backhand long, opening a nice lead before Seppi broke back in game seven to get back on the positive side of the scoreboard. A backhand winner secured another break for Gael in the next game, closing the set on own serve with an ace for a 6-3. There was only one player in set number two and Monfils sailed towards the finish line with three breaks, wrapping up the win with a forehand down the line winner to book the place in round two.
The 11th seed Karen Khachanov needed three hours to oust Jaume Munar 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 in three hours for the first victory since Indian Wells! The Russian saved ten out of 14 break points and stole rival's serve six times, delivering two breaks in the decider to move over the top first. They needed half an hour for the opening three games and the first set lasted for more than 70 minutes despite just ten games played, with Karen taking six of the last seven games for a 6-4. Jaume bounced back in set number two where he barely escaped the same fate as in the first, moving 5-2 before closing it in the tie break to set up a decider where he stood no chance against the Russian who needed this triumph badly after a poor start of the year.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2VRsYHj
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