Richard Gasquet loses to Rafael Nadal at the US Open

Richard Gasquet raised his arms to the applause of the Arthur-Ashe stadium and there was undoubtedly a lot of irony in this gesture. The Frenchman had just won his first game of the match after 1h09 after losing the first nine to Rafael Nadal in the third round of the US Open. An ordeal that he softened a little by hanging the Spaniard in the third set but which did not change anything at the end of this match (6-0, 6-1, 7-5). And that does not change the statistics: Gasquet lost his 18 duels against the Mallorcan among the pros.

The Biterrois saw the score scroll to his disadvantage without succeeding in stopping the bleeding. He was however in combat against the former world No. 1, with several times break points in his favor and always the opportunity to conclude on his service games but he never managed to tip them. He dragged this start like a ball and chain: “The 6-0 hurts especially since this first set lasts ¾ of an hour, I had balls almost every time to make the plays. It wasn’t easy at first, I served very, very badly and then I took a bit of pressure. It happened to me a few times but this was very severe. »

And Gasquet suffered again in the second set in a scenario that was becoming more and more complicated. But he always kept in mind that he would know how to bounce back. “ I knew that I was going to succeed in getting started and that it was going to start but the problem is that I couldn’t start the thing, that’s what was very hard, he explained after the meeting. Afterwards, I’m not going to say that at 6-0, I’m fine. It happened to me at Roland-Garros (he started with a 6-0 also against Nadal) also two years ago but it was behind closed doors, it was still better, it was easier (smile). »

The only advantage this time is that, when the French won a game, he provoked the first reaction of a Central hitherto very silent. But it was a little later, in the third act, that Gasquet really managed to free himself. “I managed to relax in the third. I felt that he was less well, that he made a few double faults. There is nothing extraordinary but I could have gone to the tie-break and won that set. But victory was still a long way off. »

By giving up his serve at 5-5, he lost his last hope of winning a set against the Spaniard. And came out of the court on a simple observation: “He is stronger, there is nothing to say. » Before adding in a smile: “I’m glad I didn’t play him in the first round, I’ll sleep well thinking about that tonight. » Nadal, who has still not lost a Grand Slam match this year (Australian Open and Roland-Garros titles, package before his half at Wimbledon) now has an appointment with Frances Tiafoe to play a place in the quarters.