(Geneva) World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev missed his return to the tennis courts after a six-week injury absence on Tuesday, losing 6-2, 7-6(5) to Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the second round of the Geneva Open.
Posted at 5:30 p.m.
Medvedev, who underwent surgery for a hernia last month, warned on Sunday that he is often slow to start on clay. This is what happened on his first outing of the season on this surface, during the last tournament before the start of the French Open.
While facing a first match point, Medvedev committed his seventh double fault of the clash.
” That’s a shame. I don’t play my best tennis on clay, admitted Medvedev. I must be in the zone and that was not the case today. »
Unlike Medvedev, Gasquet has already won tournaments on clay, and the 35-year-old veteran frustrated the tournament favorite in a first set where he looked in full control.
Medvedev committed three double faults which helped Gasquet break in the opening game of the second set. During the next play, the Russian smashed one of his racquets on the ground.
Photo DENIS BALIBOUSE, REUTERS
Richard Gasquet and Daniil Medvedev shake hands after their match in the second round of the Geneva Open.
Medvedev salvaged the service break in the sixth game to make it 3-3.
In the second-set tiebreaker, Medvedev managed to come from behind on two occasions after conceding a mini-break, before his serve let him down once more.
“A few more days of training and I should be ready for Roland-Garros, because physically I feel good,” said Medvedev.
In the quarter-finals, Gasquet will face Kamil Majchrzak. The Pole won 6-2, 6-3 against Marco Cecchinato. The latter had defeated Dominic Thiem on Monday.
In a first-round match, Nikoloz Basilashvili earned his bye when Facundo Bagnis forfeited after losing the first set.