We will soon be able to talk about a pet peeve. For the sixth time in eight encounters, Richard Gasquet was beaten by Roberto Bautista. Monday in the second round of the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati, the French held a round before being swept (7-5, 6-1) by the Spaniard, 12th in the world and the most underrated player on the circuit according to the Scotsman Andy Murray.
Yet it was Gasquet, the day after his victory against the surprising American Jeffrey Wolf (6-4, 6-4), who started the game best with an early break. The 50th in the world led 3-1 before the lights gradually went out. Resumed at 3-3, he saved four break points at 3-4. Not the fifth at 5-6.
Led 5-0 in 25 minutes
The 34-year-old, who was hit in a knee on the last day of UTS in early August, then no longer existed. Broken from the start in the second set, he sank to be led 5-0 in the space of 25 minutes. Bautista concluded moments later.
In the third round, “RBA” will face off against Russian Karen Khachanov, 16th in the world, who was also hung during a set before unfolding (7-6, 6-1) against another Spaniard, Pablo Carreno.
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