Richard Gasquet downs Nick Kyrgios to reach Wimbledon last-eight

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Richard Gasquet returns a shot during his fourth round clash against Nick Kyrgios.

    History almost repeated itself but Richard Gasquet pulled off a four-set escape to oust No21 seed Nick Kyrgios and reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the second time in 10 appearances.

    Last year, Kyrgios saved nine match points and came back from two sets down to beat Gasquet in the second round.

    – SW19 review: A look back at week one of Wimbledon 2015
    – Gallery: The top-ten greatest Wimbledon upsets in history
     
    – #Quiz360: WIN one-month gym membership at FitRepublik

    When the 20-year-old Aussie went down two sets to Gasquet yesterday but then saved two match points to take the third set and force a fourth, it must have felt like déjà vu.

    But Gasquet saved two set points in the fourth-set tiebreak and extinguished Kyrgios’ attempted comeback 7-5, 6-1, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (6) to enter the last eight at the All England Club for the first time since 2007.

    After trading early breaks, Kyrgios and Gasquet remained neck and neck until the Frenchman got two set points on Kyrgios’ serve in game 12.

    Kyrgios saved the first with a big serve down the T, but fired a forehand wide to lose the game and the set in 36 minutes.

    The Aussie served at 49 per cent in the opening set and won just 27 per cent of points no his second serve.

    Kyrgios double-faulted to get broken in his opening service game of the second set to go down 0-2 and received a code violation warning for audible obscenity.

    Gasquet broke again to go up a double-break 4-0. Serving for a two-set lead, the former semi-finalist double-faulted on his first set point but a wide backhand from Kyrgios saw Gasquet march ahead on his second opportunity.

    Kyrgios let out a big roar after getting two break points with some power-hitting from the baseline early in the third set. Gasquet saved the first with a put-away at the net and Kyrgios gave him a reprieve with a wild forehand. But Kyrgios broke on his third chance and was soon up 3-0.

    During the changeover, Kyrgios, who is wearing two pairs of socks, starts to take one of them off. The umpire tells him there’s no time to which the Aussie responded: “Mate, if you’re going to get angry for that, that’s another level… Rafa and stuff, 30 seconds between points every time.”

    Kyrgios then called out to Gasquet to see if he’s fine with it and the Frenchman said he didn’t mind.

    Gasquet unleashed a sensational backhand down the line passing shot winner to get two break points in game five. Kyrgios saved two but when Gasquet created a third break chance, the Canberra native netted a volley to hand over the break back.

    They were soon on level terms at 3-all.

    Kyrgios saved three break points in the ninth game, clinging onto the match by a thread as he held for 5-4.  

    Gasquet felt the pressure in the next game as he double-faulted to give Kyrgios his first set point. But the magical Frenchman saved it with a superb backhand winner. Kyrgios charged the net the next point to get another set point but he unforgivably netted a backhand to see it slip by. Gasquet eventually held for 5-5 to shift the pressure onto his opponent’s shoulders.

    Kyrgios asked himself loudly “why am I serving so bad?” and it was a valid question. He was only landing half of his first serves in and it was clearly a problem. But he hung on to hold and the set went to a tiebreak.

    Nick Kyrgios returns a forehand against Richard Gasquet.

     The first mini-break went to Gasquet thanks to a Kyrgios double fault on the fourth point. But a backhand return winner from Kyrgios saw him get the mini-break back for 3-all.

    Kyrgios saved two match points with a passing shot and a forehand winner to make it 6-all. Gasquet then saved a set point before netting a forehand to gift Kyrgios another.

    This time Kyrgios did not falter. He unleashed a huge forehand winner to stay alive in the match and force a fourth set.

    That also went to a tiebreak. Kyrgios fired ace number seven of the match to get two set points. But the Aussie then double-faulted to waste the first one and netted a ball to lose the second.

    Kyrgios double-faulted on match point. He challenged and Gasquet clasped his hands in prayer, hoping the serve was really out. And indeed it was, giving the match to the Frenchman.  

    Recommended