A week from Roland-Garros, all confidence is good to take. While many Blues are preparing for the Parisian Grand Slam in Lyon, two of them have chosen to test themselves in Geneva.
Richard Gasquet (75th) got the ball rolling by easily beating Australian John Millman (93rd) 6-3, 6-1.
The Biterrois seemed to be on his feet against an opponent who was uncomfortable on earth but will have a big challenge this Tuesday. He will indeed be Daniil Medvedev’s first opponent in the Swiss city, the Russian returning to competition this week after missing two months of the circuit due to a hernia.
Here again, the 35-year-old Frenchman can strike a blow, against the world No.2, who does not carry ocher in his heart …
Pair blows hot and cold but imposes itself
In the evening, the other Blue engaged in Geneva, Benoît Paire (67th), also won. But the Avignonnais has as often alternated hot and cold, facing Emil Ruusuvuori (61st).
After a superb start to the match against this solid Finn (7-5), he inexplicably lost his footing to 5-3 in the second set, which he conceded (5-7) after giving four games in five minutes. ..
He finally found the resources to refocus and finish the job in the last set (6-4), in just over two hours. Good for the morale of the French, who had not won in the main draw of a tournament since the Australian Open at the end of January.
And he too will have a lot to do on Tuesday in the 2nd round, with the seeded N.2 Casper Ruud…