New Delhi: Alexander Bublik ended veteran local hope Richard Gasquet’s final appearance at the Open 13 Provence on a sour note in Marseille. The Kazakhstani overcame the veteran Frenchman 6-4, 6-4 for his 100th tour-level win on hard courts.
Bublik broke the serve of Gasquet in the penultimate game of each set and served out the next game to win the first round match in 82 minutes at the indoor ATP 250 meet.
Bublik had fallen 0-3 behind early in the first set, but then turned it around with an all-round aggressive display, topping it with 37 winners that included 13 aces.
The World No. 48 wrapped up his win when he converted three of five break points against former No.7 Gasquet, who holds the record for the youngest winnet in the tournament’s history.
In 2003, then aged 16, Gasquet had defeated Feliciano Lopez to win in Marseille. Now 38, he was aiming to be the oldest winner of the tournament but was unable to match Bublik’s energy once he got settled.
‘Spectacular career’
Gasquet has announced that he will retire from tennis at the end of the 2025 French Open.
“He has a spectacular career, 20 years on Tour and 1,012 matches. I don’t think I would ever get to that point,” Bublik said of his opponent.
“I guess it has to be a great feeling to play your last Marseille after so many years. I wish him a great retirement. He has a couple more events, but this isn’t about me now. He’s a legend of French tennis and I wish him a lot of luck.”
Bublik next faces another Frenchman, title holder and second seed Ugo Humbert, whoch will be their second head-to-head meeting between them. Humbert had won the first meeting, in the 2024 Dubai championship match.
Another veteran, Stan Wawrinka was unable to notch up his first win of the season as he lost to Nuno Borges 6-7(4), 7-6(1), 6-3.
In the second round, Borges will face Zizou Bergs, who defeated Frenchman Clement Chidekh in the opening round.
Alexander Bublik beat Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the Open 13 Provence tournament in Marseille for his 100th tour-level win on hard courts. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
