Monte-Carlo: too strong for Gasquet, Thiem wins his first Masters 1000 match in two years

Europe 1 with AFP 19:43 p.m., April 10, 2023

The showdown lasted only two games in the first round of the Masters 1000 of Monte-Carlo: 23 minutes after the start of the game, the Austrian Dominique Thiem converted his eighth break ball to lead 2-0 and give way to the defense of Richard Gasquet. Leading 5-0, the Frenchman scored a game before conceding the first set on an ace. In the second set, the Austrian broke to lead 2-1 and was never threatened again.

The two-time finalist of Roland-Garros (2018 and 2019) and winner of the US Open 2020, dropped to 106th in the world and beneficiary of an invitation to the Monegasque tournament, will face the Dane Holger Rune (8th) for a place in the knockout stages. The Austrian Dominic Thiem, former 3rd world, won Monday in Monte-Carlo at the expense of the Frenchman Richard Gasquet (43rd) his first match in Masters 1000 for nearly two years.

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Since May 2021...

His last victory in a Masters 1000 tournament was in May 2021 when he beat Marton Fucsovics in his debut in Rome. He then fell to Lorenzo Sonego. Thiem scored his third win of the season. He is trying to return to his best level after ten months of absence (between 2021 and 2022) to treat a wrist injury.

In the French ranks, Benjamin Bonzi (48th) qualified Monday for the second round by dismissing the Spaniard Bernabe Zapata (41st) 6-1, 7-5. He will face for a place in the 8th finals the two-time defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas (3rd). The third and final Frenchman in contention in the main draw, Ugo Humbert (79th), will play Tuesday against Italian Lorenzo Sonego (45th) after exiting qualifying.