Today, all matches are scheduled from 11 AM on the main court. For the more courageous, court number 1 offers two doubles starting at 2 PM.
Baghdatis too short, Verdasco manages
The serious matters begin straight away with the duel between Marcos Baghdatis and Leonardo Mayer.
Prepared or not, the audience must face it. Three hours of an intense battle between two men who refuse to give up.
Despite a balanced start, the Cypriot manages to raise his level of play and wins the first set 7/5.
With a failing serve and a low first-serve percentage, Baghdatis, the 28th world-ranked player, is swept away in the next two sets, 6/3 6/4. Mayer, ranked 59th, “gave it all” and can be satisfied. On to the semi-finals.
It’s almost 2 PM. The audience, not very enthusiastic, still seems shaken by the match they’ve just witnessed.
Nevertheless, it’s Verdasco’s turn to fight for a spot in the semis. Very quickly, the main court comes alive, the spectators express themselves.
Facing an inspired Stakhovsky, Verdasco honors his status as the number 2 seed. But it was tough.
Hampered by an arm pain, the Spaniard, ranked 9th in the world, ends up outperforming his Ukrainian opponent in three sets.
Monfils lacking focus, Gasquet serious
At 2 PM, comedian Michèle Laroque, present at the Nice Open and passionate about tennis, is having lunch. On an adjacent court, Gaël Monfils is training. The word may be poorly chosen as the French player seems so relaxed, perhaps too much. With headphones in, the Frenchman prepares for his quarter-final in his own way. As usual, he entertains the crowd. The presence of a cameraman on the court doesn’t help. Monfils offers no reassurance. Worse, he causes concern.
In a few hours, he’ll face Italian Potito Starace for a spot in the last four.
Here we go. The music plays. Spectators hurry. The match begins.
The Frenchman is highly appreciated, and the young audience is eager.
Yet, Monfils fails to capitalize. He’s everywhere except in his match. Like yesterday, he makes a disastrous start.
The main court was set to support him, chanting his name at every opportunity.
Disheartened, a bit nonchalant, Monfils heads out. In the post-match conference, he remains positive: “I’m a bit disappointed still, I wanted to win, I lost in the quarters. The club is magnificent, the organizers are superb. I think they pulled off a beautiful tournament.”
More opportunistic, Potito Starace, the world’s 63rd-ranked player, was too solid, too serious.
Close to what he considers his “best level,” the Italian will face another Frenchman, Richard Gasquet, in the semis.
Indeed, a full match for the player from Béziers wrapping up the day. He gave Olivier Rochus no chance in their umpteenth confrontation, winning 6/4 6/2 in a high-quality match.
The Frenchman, who is not a seed at Roland Garros, intends to make the most of this Nice Open and proves it to us.
Friday brings the semi-finals! Mayer faces Verdasco, Gasquet is up against Starace…
Could we be heading towards a Gasquet/Verdasco final? The Nice LTC audience couldn’t dream of better!