Cincinnati (USA) (AFP)

Roger Federer of Switzerland, N.3 in the world and winner of 20 Grand Slam titles, was eliminated Thursday in the 8th finals of the Masters 1000 Cincinnati tournament by Russia's Andrey Rublev, 70th, 6-3, 6-4, Richard Gasquet and Lucas Pouille qualifying for the quarter-finals.

"When this kind of result happens, we go away and think: + What is the plan? + I do not know, I just left the court," said Federer, disillusioned, after losing the fastest match of his career (62 minutes).

Rublev, 21, winner of his only career tournament at Umag in 2017, was thrilled: "It's an incredible feeling to face such a legend as Roger, at least 99% of the public supported him. I just tried to do my best. "

While the US Open arrives (August 26-September 8), 38-year-old Federer was playing his first tournament since his memorable final at Wimbledon against Novak Djokovic of Serbia, N.1 World, and lost in the tie-break of the 5th set, after almost five hours of play 7-6 (7/5), 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 13-12 (7/3).

"I'll have a few days off before the US Open, that's for sure, but I'm going to train and work hard, that's exactly what I need for the Open," Federer said. , already crowned in Ohio seven times, the last time in 2015.

The Swiss champion with 102 career titles was picked cold by being 2-0 after losing his first puck injury. At 4-1, he pulled himself together and managed to score two more games. give up the first set. But Rublev took Federer's first serve in the seventh game to lead 4-3, then 5-3 in the second set. It was almost finished, and the young Russian, finalist in Hamburg this year, concluded his first match point.

- Gasquet: "A lot of pressure" -

Richard Gasquet, 56th in the world, beat Argentina's Diego Schwartzman (24th), 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, to reach the quarter-finals of a Masters 1000 for the first time since Monte Carlo in April 2018.

Gasquet showed a lot of character to overcome Schwartzman, 26, winner this year at Los Cobos and finalist in Buenos Aires. Led 5-2, he had to save two first-set balls in the decisive game, 4/6, before leveling four points and winning the initial round after 66 minutes.

"Winning the first set was very important, he was leading 6-4 in the tie-break, it was the key moment of the match because the set was long and difficult," said 33-year-old Gasquet.

He then led 3-0, 4-2 and 5-3 before concluding his first match point despite a double foul, offset in the wake of an ace, in the final game. Gasquet, 8th finalist in Montreal last week, gave the Argentinian his third defeat in three confrontations.

"The last game was tough, there was a lot of pressure on my shoulders because he's a very good player, solid on the back of the court, it's a big win for me because he's a big player. tournament, "added Gasquet, operated hamstrings in January. He will face the next round the Spanish Roberto Bautista, 11th player in the world.

Lucas Pouille (31st) also had a good performance in eliminating the Russian Karen Khachanov (9th) 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-2. But a certain Novak Djokovic, N.1 world, will wait for him in the quarters if he eliminates in the evening the Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, 53rd.

On the other hand, the adventure stopped in 8th for Adrian Mannarino against the "mountain" David Goffin, 19th world at 28, four titles to his list and a final in Halle this year, winner 7-6 (8 / 6), 6-2.

In the women's tournament, Japan's Naomi Osaka, N.1 World, and Australian Ashleigh Barty (N.2) are also in the quarter-finals.

© 2019 AFP