Basel (Switzerland) (AFP)
Richard Gasquet, the last French representative at the ATP 500 Basel, lost on Thursday in the second round against Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut (6-2, 4-6, 6-3).
Tenth at the ATP and in the race for one of the last two qualifying places for the London Masters, Bautista-Agut had to force his talent against the resistance of Bitterois, 64th in the world, author of more points than his opponent ( 32 against 23) but committing too many unforced errors (22 against 10 at Bautista).
The French, who rebelled in the second set after being swept in the first (6-2), has never managed to put his opponent in difficulty in the last set, Bautista Agut succeeding white games on each of his put into play.
Despite this sixth defeat in his last eight games, this encouraging encounter against a Masters contender, combined with his victory in the first round against Juan Ignacio Londero, 52nd in the world (6-1, 7-6), opens ambitions for Gasquet measured for the Masters 1000 in Paris which starts Monday, where he receives an invitation.
© 2019 AFP