Alex Michelsen, Andrey Rublev win in Metz | ATP Tour

Match Report

#NextGenATP Michelsen ends Gasquet’s fairytale run in Metz

Moutet advances to semi-finals after Rublev withdraws as a consequence of belly ache

November 05, 2024

Alex Michelsen had little time for sentiment on Tuesday on the Moselle Open.

The #NextGenATP star rallied from the brink of defeat to safe an exhilarating comeback victory over Richard Gasquet, ending the Frenchman’s fairytale ultimate run in Metz. Michelsen saved two match factors within the deciding-set tie-break earlier than sealing a 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 7-6(8) triumph.

“I wasn’t actually considering, I used to be simply taking part in,” mentioned Michelsen, who’s second within the PIF ATP Dwell Race To Jeddah. “I felt tremendous calm within the stress moments and I feel that was why I got here by means of. I used to be down two match factors and I discovered two winners.”

In an absorbing battle, it was Michelsen who held his nerve, placing 65 winners en path to his seventh quarter-final of 2024. The 20-year-old will subsequent face both Buyunchaokete or qualifier Jesper de Jong for a spot within the final 4.

“He’s been doing it for 20 years and he’s nonetheless that good,” Michelsen added of Gasquet, who’s retiring on the conclusion of Roland Garros 2025. “He is an unimaginable participant. I knew it was going to be a tricky battle. All of the credit score to him for competing as exhausting as he may.”

Gasquet, who made the primary of his 33 ATP Tour finals in Metz, was bidding to turn out to be the oldest quarter-finalist in match historical past. The 38-year-old had the match on his racket at 6/4 within the ultimate set tie-break, however Michelsen produced some impressed tennis to cross the road.

Earlier, it appeared as if the information that Andrey Rublev had certified for the Nitto ATP Finals may simply have been his tonic.

The highest seed on the indoor ATP 250 dialled in for a hard-fought 7-6(3), 7-5 win over Lorenzo Sonego, the 2022 champion. In a battle dominated by the server, Rublev discovered the one break of the match to seal a one-hour, 52-minute victory.

“It was a tricky match, he’s taking part in rather well, he beat me the final two instances,” mentioned Rublev, who levelled the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence at 2-2. “With the best way he serves, and the way he performs with the forehand, it’s actually powerful to play towards him. The primary set may have gone both means, however as quickly as I had an opportunity, I used to be in a position to take it.”

Rublev has since withdrawn from the principle draw citing belly ache, that means that Corentin Moutet will advance straight to the semi-finals. Buoyed by the gang, the Frenchman discovered some impressed tennis to defeat Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-3. Moutet was significantly dialled in through the ultimate set, throughout which he carved out eight break factors, based on Infosys ATP Stats.