Gasquet, Djokovic Set For Young Gun Clash in Estoril

Djokovic has won their only previous meeting, defeating Gasquet 7-6(2), 1-6, 6-1 in the third round of last October’s ATP Masters Series Madrid. He also topped Gasquet on the ATP Challenger Circuit in Cherbourg, France, in 2005.

Djokovic, who came into his Estoril Open debut ranked a career-high No. 5, advanced to his fourth final of the season by defeating World No. 7 Tommy Robredo 7-5, 6-1 in the semifinals. The 19-year-old leads the ATP circuit with a 30-6 match record and titles in Adelaide (d. Guccione) and ATP Masters Series Miami (d. Canas). He also was runner-up at AMS Indian Wells (l. to Nadal).

Djokovic has a 4-2 career record in ATP finals. He advanced to clay court finals in back-to-back tournaments last July, winning his first career ATP title at Amersfoort (d. Massu) and retiring in the first-set tie-break with respiratory problems the following week in Umag (l. to Wawrinka). In October, he won the indoor hard court title at Metz (d. Melzer).

Gasquet advanced to his first final since winning the Lyon title last October after compatriot and last week’s Casablanca winner Paul-Henri Mathieu retired with a right hip injury while trailing 3-1. Gasquet played in four finals all on different surfaces in 2006, winning in Nottingham (grass, d. Bjorkman), Gstaad (clay, d. Lopez) and Lyon (carpet, d. Gicquel) and finishing as runner-up at ATP Masters Series Toronto (hard, l. to Federer). He won his first career title in 2005 at Nottingham (d. Mirnyi).

Gasquet has a 22-8 season mark, and has reached the quarterfinals or better five times, including his last tournament appearance at ATP Masters Series Monte-Carlo (l. to Ferrero). His best result prior to this week was the Sydney semifinals in January (l. to Moya). He notched his 100th ATP-level win Tuesday (d. Mirnyi). He has a 5-1 event record with his sole loss coming to Rafael Nadal in the second round in 2004.