Jason HeimTennis: Fernando Gonzalez Defeats Richard Gasquet
January 25th 2009 04:18
Category: Tennis
Fernando Gonzalez staged a magnificent fightback to beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet in a four-hour thriller 3-6 3-6 7-6 (12/10) 6-2 12-10 at the Australian Open. Looking down and out after the first two sets, the No 13 seed, from Chile, turned the match around to come home strongly and set up the dubious honour of a fourth round clash with Rafael Nadal, who demolished German Tommy Haas 6-4 6-4 6-2.
Gonzalez rated it as one of his best performances ever.
"I think this was my longest ever match. It was very exciting out there and I'm really happy with the way I turned it around," he said.
"I just tried and tried. In the first two sets Richard was playing at such a high level, like a superhero. But I saw that he tired in the fourth and fifth sets so I tried to move him around.
"In the fifth set I felt like I was the favourite but I couldn't break him. I had to keep fighting and took my chances when I could."
Gasquet romped through the first two sets, barely raising a sweat and looked certain to wrap up the match in lightning quick time.
However, Gonzalez seemed to wake up at the start of the third and broke Gasquet immediately.
The Frenchman broke back straight away and both players lifted the tempo as the third set went to a tie-break.
Gonzalez had set points at 6-4 in the tie-break and wasn't able to close it out, but although Gasquet got back on terms he couldn't get his nose in front and instead of trying to win the set, he was constantly trying to save it.
Gasquet eventually conceded one set point too many and Gonzalez got back in the match, much to the delight of the large group of flag-waving Chilean fans.
He then stormed away with the fourth set as Gasquet appeared to wilt.
The Frenchman called for the trainer twice during the set, once for his toe and once for his shoulder, and then called him again at the start of the fifth.
Games went with serve early in the fifth set but at the end of the fifth game it was Gonzalez's turn to call for the trainer for a toe problem.
As the match wore on Gasquet's toe problem seemed to worsen and his limp became more pronounced, even though he was still serving with enormous power and precision.
He had a chance to break at 4-4 only for Gonzalez to save the game with two huge first serves.
The Frenchman had a third break point at 7-7 and seemed certain to convert it until Gonzalez at full stretch hit a magnificent cross court passing shot deep into the corner.
He had yet another chance at 10-10, but again Gonzalez was up to the task and he saved the break to move ahead 11-10.
Gasquet got to 40-30 in the next game but the Chilean made three big points to get to his first break point, which Gasquet saved.
Gonzalez then brought up a second break point and there was no coming back for the valiant Frenchman, who could only watch helplessly as a Gonzalez forehand landed in the open court, sparking wild celebrations around the court.
Agence France-Presse
Gonzalez rated it as one of his best performances ever.
"I think this was my longest ever match. It was very exciting out there and I'm really happy with the way I turned it around," he said.
"I just tried and tried. In the first two sets Richard was playing at such a high level, like a superhero. But I saw that he tired in the fourth and fifth sets so I tried to move him around.
Fernando Gonzalez
"In the fifth set I felt like I was the favourite but I couldn't break him. I had to keep fighting and took my chances when I could."
Gasquet romped through the first two sets, barely raising a sweat and looked certain to wrap up the match in lightning quick time.
However, Gonzalez seemed to wake up at the start of the third and broke Gasquet immediately.
The Frenchman broke back straight away and both players lifted the tempo as the third set went to a tie-break.
Gonzalez had set points at 6-4 in the tie-break and wasn't able to close it out, but although Gasquet got back on terms he couldn't get his nose in front and instead of trying to win the set, he was constantly trying to save it.
Gasquet eventually conceded one set point too many and Gonzalez got back in the match, much to the delight of the large group of flag-waving Chilean fans.
He then stormed away with the fourth set as Gasquet appeared to wilt.
The Frenchman called for the trainer twice during the set, once for his toe and once for his shoulder, and then called him again at the start of the fifth.
Games went with serve early in the fifth set but at the end of the fifth game it was Gonzalez's turn to call for the trainer for a toe problem.
As the match wore on Gasquet's toe problem seemed to worsen and his limp became more pronounced, even though he was still serving with enormous power and precision.
He had a chance to break at 4-4 only for Gonzalez to save the game with two huge first serves.
The Frenchman had a third break point at 7-7 and seemed certain to convert it until Gonzalez at full stretch hit a magnificent cross court passing shot deep into the corner.
He had yet another chance at 10-10, but again Gonzalez was up to the task and he saved the break to move ahead 11-10.
Gasquet got to 40-30 in the next game but the Chilean made three big points to get to his first break point, which Gasquet saved.
Gonzalez then brought up a second break point and there was no coming back for the valiant Frenchman, who could only watch helplessly as a Gonzalez forehand landed in the open court, sparking wild celebrations around the court.
Agence France-Presse
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