Let's go !
The last Masters 1000 of the year has started at the Accor Arena.
An edition with double stakes, with on the one hand the race for the place of world No. 1 between Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal (who has never won in eastern Paris), Daniil Medvedev and Casper Ruud, and l The other is for the Turin Masters, where there are still two vacancies for seven candidates.
The Frenchman: Richard Gasquet
If there is only one left… With Tsonga retired, Simon very close and Monfils already looking towards 2023, Richard Gasquet looks like the last of the Mohicans.
After having long believed that his physique was definitely behind him, the Biterrois, 36, seems to have been getting younger for a few weeks.
On the heels of his semi-final in Antwerp, the former world No. 7, semi-finalist at Bercy fifteen years ago (!), easily defeated the Slovak left-hander Molcan in the first round (6-3, 6-1 in 1h14).
“It's really a great result, savors the n°76 at ATP.
I was lucky to have an invitation and it was important to play well.
There was a nice atmosphere and I didn't necessarily expect it for a Monday.
“The task looks more delicate Tuesday evening against Casper Ruud, world No. 4, finalist of Roland-Garros and the US Open this year.
Even if the Norwegian is losing momentum… “In any case, he is the favorite, slips the Biterrois.
I have nothing to lose.
It will be a great game to play.
“The other Habs in the running, Quentin Halys, was taken out by the Georgian Basilashvili (6-3, 6-4).
The number: 2
Marin Cilic fell as soon as he entered the fray against the Italian Musetti, recent winner of the very controversial ATP 250 tournament in Naples.
It is barely the second time in fourteen appearances that the Croatian veteran, world No. 17, stumbles on the first step in Paris.
Carlos Alcaraz holds the world of tennis in his hands... AFP or licensors
The image
Even if he was not on the program, Carlos Alcaraz came for a little tour of the Central, where he has not only good memories after his debacle against Hugo Gaston last year.
Before the Simon-Murray match, the Spaniard received from the hands of Andrea Gaudenzi, president of the ATP, the trophy of the world n°1.
Becoming the youngest master in the world at 19 after his victory at the US Open in September, Alcaraz is playing his first Masters 1000 in Paris in the shoes of the boss… “I don't feel the pressure.
I set myself this objective of finishing the year number 1, he smiles.
I try to do my best on each tournament to try to continue to play, to progress.
That's what I do.
I love to play tennis.
Pressure is part of it.
" The Spaniard has learned a lot from his disappointment in 2021. "It was a difficult match,
probably one of the most difficult I've had to play so far, he slips.
Thanks to this game, I could see how I felt when everyone was for the opposition.
I learned lessons from that game and it helped me a lot this year.
»
The main results of the first round
Isner (USA) b.
Otte (All) 6-4, 7-6 (7/3);
Fritz (EU/#9) b.
Davidovich (Esp) 7-5, 6-2;
Khachanov (Rus) b.
Baez (Arg) 6-1, 6-1;
Musetti (Ita) beats Cilic (Cro/n°15) 6-4, 6-4;
Norrie (Eng/#12) b.
Kecmanovic (Ser) 6-2, 6-4, Huessler (Sui) b.
Sinner (Ita/n°11) 6-3, 6-2.
The program
Tuesday, November 1.
Center Court.
From 11 a.m.: Isner (EU) - Rublev (Rus/n°7),
RINDERKNECH
- Draper (GB), Hurzacz (Pol/n°10) -
MANNARINO
, Djokovic (Ser/n°6) - Cressy (EU) ).
Not before 7:30 p.m.:
GASQUET
- Ruud (Nor/n°3).
Not before 8:30 p.m.: Khachanov - Huesler (Sui).
The other French:
MOUTET
- Coric (Cro),
FILS
- Fognini (Ita).