Last day of competition at the Mouratoglou academy. While the semi-finals and finals of the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) are played this Sunday, July 12, the tournament also delivered funny exchanges. Saturday, during his match against Benoît Paire, Richard Gasquet, helmet on the ears, took advantage of the flexible rules of the exhibition to evoke the conquests of his compatriot.
"He is very talented, very good soccer player, and with the girls it is the best! Laughs "Richie". Not failing to underline the capillary escapades of the Avignonese: “Pink hair, gray hair, he never misses, this is my master […] I am the past, he is the future. "He's a liar, he's a liar," replied Benoît Paire, hilariously.
"With girls, he's the best I know. Pink hair, gray hair - he doesn't miss. I'm the past and he's the future." @ Richardgasquet1 revealed a few inside secrets about @benoitpaire at the changeover ... 🤣 #UTShowdown pic.twitter.com/qK16xD8bKc
- UTS | Ultimate Tennis Showdown (@UTShowdown) July 11, 2020This offbeat intervention in the middle of a match is unique to UTS, a tournament in an original format imagined by Patrick Mouratoglou.
A match without stake
"Tennis is bad, but it can't be seen because there is a very beautiful facade with the three greatest champions in history," said coach Serena Williams. The exhibition tournament offers matches divided into quarter-times. Interactions and emotions are encouraged by a more flexible code of conduct, exchanges with coaches, and interviews conducted between each quarter.
The two French were playing a match without stake since Richard Gasquet guaranteed to reach the semi-finals faced a Benoît Paire already eliminated. But the native of Béziers was able to show great form, winning 3-1. Reassuring at the approach of his semi-final against Matteo Berrettini, fresh out by Andrey Rublev during Thiem's 7, a clay tournament organized by the Austrian.
The Italian and the French already crossed paths during the tournament, in a one-sided duel for the Transalpine (4-0). Stefanos Tsitsipas and David Goffin complete the "final oven". The Belgian will have at heart to wipe a clean 4-0 inflicted the day before by the Greek, favorite of the competition. The two winners will play their final at 10 p.m.