advancing to the quarter-finals of a ‘Masters 1000’ tournament. The Portugese won an extremely long 1st set against Gael Monfils (1 hour 27 minutes) and quickly broke his opponent twice at the beginning of the following set to get a 7-6(6), 6-2 victory, converting the first match point with a half-volley. Also Viktor Troicki advanced for the first time to a quarterfinal of such a big clay-court tournament. He has done it with the help of luck, his rival Tommy Robredo retired after winning the 1st set due to left adductor injury… Six years ago at Monte Carlo-Rolex Masters, in a scintillating battle of two teenagers, 18-year-old Richard Gasquet led 7-6, *2:1 (40-30) against his peer Rafael Nadal, and later had a break point at 3:3 in the 3rd set (Nadal won 6-7, 6-4, 6-3). Between that match and their today’s encounter, Nadal notched 28 consecutive wins in Monte Carlo, never being so close to defeat as in that semifinal in 2005. The Spaniard beat Gasquet today 6-2, 6-4 with a very convincing performance, which allows to expect his another Monte-Carlo title without dropping a set (he did that in years 2007-08 & 2010). “It was a good match,” assessed Gasquet, “But I have regrets about that game at 4-4 [in the second set]. I believe I played at the level of a Top 10 player, but he is one step above.” Andy Murray was booed six times during a 6-3, 6-3 win over Gilles Simon and refused the on-court interview. The Scot had the audience against himself every time he played a drop-shot to his injured opponent (the Frenchman had slightly twisted his right ankle on set point in the 1st set).You must be logged in to post a comment.
Gasquet, describing Nadal’s forehand to Canal Plus: “It’s the best of all time. It’s like a mountain that comes over you.”