Match of the day: Nalbandian (No8) v Gasquet
Match of the day: Nalbandian (No8) v Gasquet
By FFT
Monday, May 24, 2004
For the third year in a row, Richard Gasquet has drawn the short straw at
Roland Garros. After losing in the first round to subsequent winner Albert
Costa in 2002, and then again to tough cookie Nicolas Lapentti in 2003, the
French teenage prodigy was hoping for a slice of fortune when the names came
out of the hat this year. No such luck. Argentina’s world No8 David
Nalbandian stands between him and a first-ever appearance in the second round.
THE STAGE
Richard Gasquet is not yet 18 years old (his birthday is not until 18 June),
yet for the past couple of years he has been under the full glare of the
media spotlight in France. After bursting onto the scene with some blinding
displays at Monte Carlo back in 2002, some expected him to be challenging for
major trophies before long. That has not happened, and as a result the boy
from Serignan has come in for more than his fair share of criticism. Gasquet
now stands at 106 in the world rankings after swapping coaches in recent
months. Eric Winogradsky was replaced briefly by Tarik Benhabiles before
his father, Francis, took back the reigns, having coached Richard throughout
his formative years. A South American tour at the start of the year gave him
the opportunity to measure up against some of the best clay court specialists.
Two wins over Chile’s Nicolas Massu were particularly encouraging, and he was
expecting to call on that positive experience to help him progress beyond the
opening round at Roland Garros for the first time. The draw has been unkind
though, and he will need to be firing on all cylinders if he is to upset his
first round opponent, Nalbandian.
Nalbandian is an atypical Argentinian. Unlike the vast majority of his
compatriots, the No8 seed is most at home on fast surfaces. Nalbandian
came out of nowhere to make it to the Wimbledon final back in 2002. At
Roland Garros, he has never progressed past the third round, but that
is a misleading stat. For Nalbandian can play on clay, and play well, as
demonstrated by his appearance in the final of the ATP Masters Series in
Rome, in early May. Indeed, that display makes him an outsider for the
title, providing of course he gets past Gasquet in the first round.
KEYS TO THE MATCH
Nalbandian possesses two main attributes when it comes to winning on clay:
power and stamina. A supreme athlete, the South American also deploys one
of the best services on the circuit. He is an all-round player, as
comfortable at the net as he is in the back court. His only weakness
is a relative lack of patience compared to the top clay court aficionados,
although that should not prove a failing here as Gasquet will not be looking
to make the match last in any case. The youngster is a natural talent,
proud owner of one of the best backhands around, and capable of unleashing
winners form anywhere. His service is not rock solid though, especially
second time around. In front of his home fans, he might just be ready to
pull off the first real ‘coup’ of his career. To do that he will need to
hold his nerve, especially if the match drags on, and therein lies the
greatest challenge of all for the 17-year-old.
HEAD TO HEAD: 1-0 NALBANDIAN
The two met for the first and only time at Monte Carlo, in the first round,
last year. The Argentinian won comfortably on that occasion, 6-4 6-0. But
young Richard is fitter and stronger this time around.
--
幾間東倒西歪屋，一個南腔北調人。
--
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