Matching Report
#NextGenATP Michelsen ends Gasquet's legendary run at Metz
Moutet advances to the semi-finals after Rublev withdrew due to stomach pain
November 05, 2024
The Moselle Open
Alex Michelsen survived a run to the quarter-finals of the Moselle Open.
Written by Jerome Coombe
Alex Michelsen had a little time to feel on Tuesday at the Moselle Open.
The #NextGenATP star bounced back from the brink of defeat to claim a thrilling comeback victory over Richard Gasquet, ending the Frenchman's last legendary run in Metz. Michelsen saved two match points in the break before winning 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 7-6 (8).
“I wasn't really thinking, I was just playing,” said Michelsen, who is ranked second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. “I felt very calm during stressful times and I think that's why I got through. I lost two match points and got two winners. “
In a tight battle, it was Michelsen who held the momentum, hitting 65 winners en route to a seventh quarter-final of 2024. The 20-year-old player will face Buyunchaokete or Jesper de Jong for a place in the last four. .
“He's been doing it for 20 years and he's still that good,” Michelsen said of Gasquet, who is retiring at the end of Roland Garros 2025. “He's an amazing player. I knew it was going to be a tough fight. All credit to him for competing as hard as he could.”
Gasquet, who made the first of his 33 ATP Tour finals in Metz, was seeking to become the oldest quarter-finalist in the tournament's history. The 38-year-old had a match on his racket at 6/4 at the final break, but Michelsen produced inspired tennis over the line.
Earlier, it seems that the news that Andrey Rublev had qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals may have been his tonic.
The top seed in the ATP 250 indoor tournament scored a 7-6(3), 7-5 victory over Lorenzo Sonego, the 2022 champion. In a battle dominated by the server, Rublev earned the last break of the match to win in one hour, 52 minutes.
“It was a tough match, he's playing really well, he beat me the last two times,” said Rublev, who tied the Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 2-2. “The way he serves, and the way he plays with Floss, it's really difficult to play with him. The first set could have gone either way, but as soon as I got my chance, I took it.”
Rublev has withdrawn from the main draw citing stomach pain, which means that Corentin Moutet will advance to the semi finals. Cheered on by the crowd, the Frenchman found inspired tennis to defeat Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-3. Moutet was called on especially during the final set, where he produced eight points, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
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