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Roland-Garros: first Frenchman in the 2nd round, Grégoire Barrère shows the way

2022-05-22T17:10:53.547Z


After more than three hours of a fierce fight, the player ranked 209th in the world is the first Frenchman to qualify for the second round.


Grégoire Barrère, 209th in the world and invited for the occasion in the big leagues, qualified for the second round of Roland-Garros by defeating the Japanese Taro Daniel (105th) 3-6, 6-2, 0- 6, 6-3, 6-4 after a funny match that lasted 3h14.

After the eliminations of Harmony Tan and Carole Monnet in the women's draw earlier in the day, he is the first Habs to pass the first round pending the fates reserved Clara Burel and Kristina Mladenovic.

He will face in the second round the American John Isner, who defeated his friend Quentin Halys in four rounds.

“I am very happy, because I did not expect two weeks ago to be here, says the player from Charenton (Val-de-Marne) a few kilometers from the stadium.

The public was boiling hot, it was very nice.

When he sings the Marseillaise like he did for me, you get chills and it gives you energy.

It helps you engage even more.

It's pretty awesome.

»

🇬🇧 Barrère


🇨🇿 Muchova


🇺🇾 Cuevas



Follow day one live 👀 https://t.co/mnXuKWLaEI pic.twitter.com/cbJR6JLwSa

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 22, 2022

Barrère plays for the sixth time the main draw of the only Major on clay.

But he often broke his nose on the first day.

He had only reached the second round so far, in 2019, when he lost to Russian Aslan Karatsev.

He has also already reached, but not exceeded, the 2nd round in the other three Grand Slam tournaments: at Wimbledon in 2019, at the US Open in 2019 and 2020, at the Australian Open in 2020.

He will be fine at Wimbledon despite the position of the ATP

On the semi-buried court N.14, therefore supported by crowded stands, the Frenchman managed the decisive break quickly enough to lead 2-1 in the decisive set.

A few minutes later, he dropped his racquet of happiness before going to greet his opponent of the day.

"I had a bit of a fishy start to the year," says the 28-year-old.

I had the Covid at Christmas, I remained positive for 15 days.

I had my car broken down with others in a parking lot in Boulogne.

I chained the galley tournaments.

Frankly, I did not expect to play Roland this year.

I won my place by beating Jo

(Tsonga)

in 16th at Aix when he had a match point against me.

If I had lost that day, I wouldn't be invited here.

My presence is therefore a small hold-up, but I take advantage of it.

I'm very happy about it.

»

Read alsoRoland-Garros: "It's good, it's beautiful, but it's expensive ...", the public invades a stadium that it finally rediscovers

Fan of PSG when his father is from Real, Grégoire Barrère tasted the extension of Mbappé's contract in Paris: "I also liked his timing: announcing it the day before my match, it was cool to go.

I'll go and buy his jersey right away…” She relieves him of a weight: “I don't put any pressure on myself, he says.

I know that at the moment, French tennis is not going through a great period.

We were lucky to have 4 great bulls so far

(Tsonga, Simon, Gasquet, Monfils)

who have done extraordinary things without people realizing it.

Only me, I do not consider myself as the next generation.

I've been here a long time and it doesn't concern me.

I am sure, however, that there will be good French players in the future.

Young people should be allowed to have their way.

I have no doubt.

»

After Roland, the Frenchman will head for the grass season and will be at Wimbledon even if the ATP won't give any points there because of the boycott of the Russian players: "I will of course go because I love this tournament, he said.

What am I going to lose?

35 points is not that bad.

Financially, I can't afford not to go anyway.

No player in the world who plays qualifiers can afford not to go to a Grand Slam.

It is not the 400 euros we earn in a Challenger that allows us to live (his participation in the second round at Roland-Garros gives him a bonus of 86,000 euros).

I don't think any player will miss Wimbledon.

Me in any case, I will be there, sure.

»

Before that, he hopes to experience a great epic which first passes through Isner this Wednesday in the second round.

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2022-05-22

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