No. 1 Jannik Sinner moves ahead as Richard Gasquet says goodbye at French Open

Japan Times

2 days ago

French Open veteran Richard Gasquet's career ended with a defeat against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, while seasoned veteran Novak Djokovic continued his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title by battling into the third round of the French Open on Thursday.
Third seed Alexander Zverev, teenager Mirra Andreeva and American title contenders Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys all won on a windy afternoon, but former champion Barbora Krejcikova and ninth seed Alex De Minaur crashed out.
Sinner brought down the curtain on Gasquet's long professional journey, hammering the 38-year-old 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 for his second win over the local favorite in as many editions of the tournament and then led the tributes.
"We're different generations, but it's your moment," Sinner said before a touching video tribute featuring Gasquet's peers. "You played in such an incredible era of tennis, and everyone will recognize you, even after retirement.
Gasquet's compatriot Gael Monfils, also 38, lit up the evening session on Court Philippe Chatrier as he pushed fifth-seeded Briton Jack Draper in a sensational match that had a partisan crowd screaming for more.
Draper eventually won 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 but had to battle back from 5-2 down in the fourth set to avoid a decider.
"My brain was fried out here," said Draper, who described Monfils as a magician. "I'm not sure if I am going to go to sleep tonight because my brain is just all over the place with what he was doing out here."
While Sinner and Gasquet showcased clean hitting in their match, Zverev had to chase down dozens of drop shots from Dutchman Jesper de Jong before securing a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 victory.
Surprise 2024 semifinalist Andreeva took apart the powerful Ashlyn Krueger 6-3, 6-4 with her inventive approach and confirmed her caliber on the sport's slowest surface after runs to the quarterfinals in Madrid and Rome this season.
"This match wasn't easy, I'd lost to her at the U.S. Open," Andreeva said, reflecting on her second-round defeat against Krueger in New York last August.
"She's a powerful and aggressive player. I knew I had to play well ... I suffered and struggled with my serve, but I'm happy I found a way to stay calm."
Pegula, Krueger's frequent doubles partner this season and the No. 3 seed, had to battle against fellow American Ann Li but found her best level when it mattered to prevail 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).
Up next for the 2024 U.S. Open runner-up is former Paris finalist Marketa Vondrousova, who sent 25th seed Magdalena Frech packing 6-0, 4-6, 6-3.
Gauff moved ahead by beating unseeded Czech Tereza Valentova 6-2, 6-4 while fellow Grand Slam champion Keys overcame Briton Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-3, but it was the end of the road for 2021 champion Krejcikova who fell 6-3, 6-3 to Veronika Kudermetova.
Three-time French Open champion Djokovic had to work, but the 38-year-old continued his quest for more history after his 100th title in Geneva last week as he beat Frenchman Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1).
The Serbian's sixth victory in a row marked his longest winning streak since his run to gold at the Paris Olympics at the same venue last year.
"Mentally you have to be concentrated throughout such a match," said Djokovic, who came close to losing the third set. "Corentin is very quick, he is a fighter, especially in the third set.
"He had set point. At that moment anything could happen, but I stayed in the set. At the right time I found a good serve."
Teen sensation Joao Fonseca beat Pierre-Hugues Herbert 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 in a clash where French and Brazilian fans competed for vocal superiority at a packed Court 14.
Up next for Fonseca is a mouth-watering clash with Draper.
Czech Jakub Mensik, who at 19 is a year older than Fonseca but equally as talented as confirmed by his Miami triumph, failed to conjure up any magic and fell 2-6, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, against Henrique Rocha of Portugal.
Local crowds had reason to cheer despite Gasquet, Moutet and Herbert falling as 14th seed Arthur Fils rallied for a 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 0-6, 6-4 win over Spaniard Jaume Munar.
"In the fifth set, I thought about Gael Monfils, who has flipped millions of matches," Fils said.
Jiri Lehecka took out Spanish No. 26 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, and Kazakh showman Alexander Bublik awoke from his slumber to upset Australian No. 9 seed Alex De Minaur 2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3,6-2.
De Minaur put down his own problems in the match down to fatigue amid a grueling season and called for changes to the calendar to prevent players from burning out.