Metz (AFP)
Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had to fight to cross the course of the first round of the Metz tournament on Tuesday, during a perfect day for the French.
Mistreated during two sets Gasquet, 41st world, ended up overcoming the Spaniard Marcel Granollers (100) 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.
After the loss of the first run, Tsonga (61st) unfolded his game to dismiss Spaniard Pablo Andujar (52) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in 1:53.
The tricolor clan is already guaranteed to have three representatives in the quarterfinals, since there will be three 100% French duels in the second round.
Gasquet will face Benoît Paire (23rd), directly qualified because of his status of seeded. Tsonga (61) will meet Pierre-Hugues Herbert (55), who won his first match in more than two months by dismissing German Jan Lennard Struff (39) 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 on Tuesday.
The Parisian Gregorio Barrere (98) will face Antoine Hoang of Aix (109), after outclassing Hubert Hurkacz (36), one of the most advanced players in 2019, in two sets ( 6-2, 6-2).
© 2019 AFP