GASQUET MAKES IT THROUGH

Richard Gasquet has made his way into the second round of the Australian Open with an easy victory over Albert Montanes of Spain in the opening round. Gasquet defeated Montanes in the straight sets by 7-5, 6-2, 6-2.

Montanes fought hard in the opening set, but, the next couple of sets were completely dominated by the Frenchman who took just 96 minutes to wrap up the match.

This was the fifth match between these two players. The previous four matches were won by Gasquet.

This was Montanes’ 7^th consecutive defeat in the first round of the Grand Slams. He hasn’t managed to reach the second round of a Grand Slam after the French Open 2011.

Montanes made a decent start to the match. In the first four games of the opening set, both the players held their service and the scores were levelled at 2-2 at the end of the fourth game.

Montanes got a breakthrough in the fifth game to take a lead of 3-2. The next four games went with the serve and Montanes was ahead by 5-4 at the end of the ninth game.

The Spaniard needed to hold his service in the 10^th game to win the first set, but, he didn’t manage to do that. Gasquet broke his service in the ninth game and then, held his service in the next game to take the lead of 6-5. The Frenchman sealed the opening set with another serve break in the 12^th game.

After struggling a bit in the first set, Gasquet raised the standard of his game in the next two sets. His performance was brilliant in the second and the third set. He let his opponent win just three games in the last two sets.

In the second round, Gasquet will take on Alejandro Falla of Colombia.