Federer Blows Match Points in Loss at ATP Monte Carlo

Posted on April 16, 2005

Roger Federer's claycourt campaign hit a snag Friday as the world No. 1 failed to convert on three match points in a 6-7(1), 6-2, 7-6(8) quarterfinal loss to French qualifier Richard Gasquet at the ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo.

"He played good, you know, when it mattered," Federer said. "He could have closed it out earlier. He missed it, though. That gave me a chance, I came back. I should have won it. But it was a close match. I thought it was good, quality tennis."

Gasquet was competing in his first ATP-level event of the year after coming off injury, and snapped Federer's 25-match winning streak, handing the Swiss only his second loss of the season.

"He played very well in the beginning, then he started becoming a bit nervous," Gasquet said. "I was able to return well and to play crosscourt, which bothered him. I don't know what I did better than he did."

The most stunning quarterfinal display was put on by Spanish teen and No. 11 seed Rafael Nadal, who embarrassed the current French Open holder and No. 4 seed Gaston Gaudio 6-3, 6-0.

"It was a very complicated and very difficult match," Nadal said. "He was a bit nervous at the start. I learned the lessons from Buenos Aires, because then I rushed too much. This time, I played being more calm and I was waiting for him to miss."

Also into the semis were No. 6 seed Guillermo Coria, who came back to beat Spaniard Dave Ferrer from a set down, and resurgent former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero who easily handled Italy's Filippo Volandri in straight sets.

"When I came here I was not very confident, but Monte Carlo is a place where I feel good and it suits me well," said Coria in a statement that could have easily also come from Ferrero. "So this result is good for my confidence."

Saturday's semifinal match-ups are (6) Guillermo "El Fragile" Coria vs. (WC) Ferrero (JC has won both their career meetings on clay), and (Q) Gasquet vs. (11) Rafael "The Prodigy" Nadal (Nadal won their lone meeting in three sets). The doubles semis will see Frenchmen (6) Llodra/Santoro vs. Americans (3) Bryan/Bryan, and Aussies (4) Arthurs/Hanley vs. (5) Paes/Zimonjic.

"Every time I play against (Gasquet), I get injured," Nadal said. "Once I had to abandon the match because of my injury, and the second time they had to carry me off of the court because I was not even able to walk."