GASQUET THROUGH IN SHANGHAI

Mary Pierce’s countryman, Richard Gasquet, has defeated Brian Baker of USA in the first round of Shanghai Rolex Masters 2012 at Qizhang Forest Sports City Arena. Gasquet won the match in the straight sets by 6-2, 6-3. This was a clinical performance by the Frenchman. He took just 70 minutes to win the match and cruise into the second round.

Gasquet looked in supreme touch right from the start. He served wonderfully and smashed 6 aces in the match. After winning the match, Gasquet said, “I am happy to have started the competition on a good note. I started the match well and then, carried on the momentum throughout the match. In the second set, there were a few mistakes here and there, but, fortunately, those mistakes didn’t cost me too much.”

On the other hand, Baker was not amused at all after losing the match. The American player said, “It was one of those matches which I would like to forget soon. I started the match awfully and the first set was done and dusted in just few minutes. I need to work a bit on my service.”

“Richard was a deserving winner. He was fantastic on his serve today.”

Gasquet made a blistering start to the match. He broke Baker’s service in the 2^nd and the 4^th game of the first set and won the first five games consecutively to get ahead by 5-0.

Gasquet’s service was broken in the 7^th game and the lead was reduced to 5-2. But, thereafter, the Frenchman didn’t give any chance to Baker. He got another breakthrough in the 8^th game and grabbed the first set by 6-2.

In the second set, Baker started a bit better. The first seven games of the second set went with the serve and the score was 4-3 in the favour of Gasquet. The Frenchman got two breakpoints in the eighth game and he latched on one of them to make the score 5-3. He wrapped up the match by holding his service in the next game.

In the second round, Gasquet will play against the winner of the match between Lleyton Hewitt and Radek Stepanek.