Gasquet, Haehnel in First Career Final
OPEN DE MOSELLE
Metz, France
October 16, 2004
Gasquet, Haehnel in First Career Final
In the first semifinal of the day, qualifier Jerome Haehnel advanced to his
first career final after an epic three-hour, 12-minute combat against
compatriot Paul-Henri Mathieu.
Haehnel, who defeated Andre Agassi in the first round of Roland Garros
earlier this year, needed three tie-breaks to defeat 22-year-old Mathieu
in their first career meeting.
Following on centre court, Richard Gasquet booked a spot into his first
career final after a comprehensive 57-minute victory over former NCAA
champion Jeff Morisson 6-1, 6-4. Gasquet was impressively solid on Saturday
at the Open de Moselle, he never faced a break point and took his opponent's
serve on three occasions.
The young rising French player from Bezier is playing in Metz in his first
indoor tournament of the year.
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID:
Gasquet: "I am really happy to be playing so well and be in my first career
final. I didn't think I was going to win so easily today, but I felt
particularly good on the court."
"Against Jerome [Haenhel], I know it won't be easy but I hope I can win my
first career title. He defeated me once. It was three years ago in a Futures
event. I remember some of this match but tomorrow the conditions are
completely different so we will see what happens."
Haehnel:"I still can't believe what is happening to me. I need some time to
reflect on this week. Probably once the tournament is over, I will be able
to realize what is happening to me.I came to play the qualifying event and
I am in the final tomorrow. "
"This match was very close, it could have gone both ways. I was maybe more
aggressive than him. I took the risks, came to the net, hit a lot of winners
with my forehand."
"Tomorrow I am looking to be relaxed and play well. I feel a bit tired, I
think today couldn't be any longer but when you win, you feel just fine."
Mathieu: "I am disappointed but Jerome [Haenhel] played so well. The return
is one of my strength, but he served well on first and second balls, it was
really difficult to hurt him on the returns.팊
"I was probably a little tight today, but it is normal. Sometimes it is the
legs that are not fast enough, today I was tight and it is part of the game
to be able to deal when some things are not working the way you would want
them to."
FINAL PREVIEW
Final action takes place on Sunday at the Open de Moselle featuring
qualifier Jerome Haehnel and young rising hope Richard Gasquet in the
ninth all-countrymen final of the year (San Jose, Valencia, Acapulco,
Roland Garros, Bastad, Los Angeles, Stuttgart and Beijing). The winner on
Sunday will become the fourth French player to win an ATP event in 2004
after Anthony Dupuis (Milan) Nicolas Escude (Doha), and Michael Llodra
(s'-Hertogenbosch).
The last time two French players faced each other in the final of an ATP
event was Marseille in 1999 when Fabrice Santoro defeated Arnaud Clement
in the final.
At 18 years old and two months, Gasquet is hoping to become the third
teenager to win an ATP tournament this year. (Rafael Nadal won in Sopot
with 18yrs.2mo. and and Tomas Berdych in Palermo with 19yrs.17days.).
Jerome Haenhel is aiming to extend his winning streak to eight matches at
the Open de Moselle. The Mulhouse native, who defeated Gasquet in a Futures
event three years ago, is looking to become the second qualifier to earn an
ATP title this year after Santiago Ventura in Casablanca (d. Dominik Hrbaty
in the final).
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