Gasquet Wins Gstaad for 2nd 2006 TitlePosted on July 17, 2006 Seventh-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet claimed his third career title -- and first clay court crown -- when he defeated sixth-seeded Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 7-6(4), 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-3 in the Gstaad final Sunday.
The 20-year-old saved both break points he faced during the four-set match. Despite seeing 24 aces fired past him, Gasquet broke the Lopez serve three times, but had to wait until 3-2 in the third set before clinching the first break. In the third set Lopez surrendered his serve in the first and last games. Gasquet, who began 2006 with a disappointing 4-10 record, has now won 10 of his past 11 matches and two titles from his past three tournaments. He successfully defended his Nottingham Open title on grass before losing to eventual champion Roger Federer in the first round of Wimbledon. Gasquet climbed to No. 12 in the INDESIT ATP Rankings in September last year and had a chance to qualify for Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai before missing the final four events of the 2005 season with a right elbow injury. In 2005 Gasquet did not lose in the first round of the 11 events he played but in his first five appearances of 2006 he fell in the first round four times. He came into Gstaad ranked No. 60. Lopez, who was appearing in his first ATP final since New Haven 2005 (l. Blake) slipped to 1-3 in career finals. His lone title came in Vienna on indoor hard court in 2004. -- ATP |
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