Richard Gasquet says it could be his pleasure to satisfy Marat Safin after so a few years on the Monte Carlo Masters and simply greet the 45-year-old and see how he’s doing.
In case you missed it, Andrey Rublev introduced that he and Marat Safin agreed to collaborate by at the least the clay season. And for the reason that world No. 9 is opening his clay swing within the Principality, their partnership additionally formally kicks off this week.
Though Gasquet is ranked at No. 164 on this planet, he nonetheless made the Monte Carlo essential draw after the event organizers got here by with a wildcard.Â
23 years in the past, the Frenchman made his debut within the Principality. That yr, he exited Monte Carlo within the second spherical following a 6-4 6-1 defeat to Safin. And through Sunday’s press convention, the 38-year-old French participant was requested if he remembered taking part in the Russian in his first Monte Carlo look and about his former rival changing into a coach.
Gasquet: Safin is a legend, I am wanting ahead to seeing himÂ
“I have not seen him but, however I do know he is right here. He is a legend of the sport. I performed towards him in 2002. I shall be so happy to see him once more, as a coach now. So I am wanting ahead to see him and say hi there to him,” the previous world No. 7 mentioned.
In the meantime, Gasquet upset rising star Matteo Arnaldi 6-3 4-6 6-4 to arrange a Monte Carlo second-round assembly towards the winner of the match between Felix Auger-Aliassime and Daniel Altmaier.Â
“I am pleased I received, as a result of it was a good match. The third set was very tight. I used to be capable of win it, and I used to be pleased to do this in entrance of a giant crowd on middle courtroom in Monte-Carlo with a wildcard. You at all times wish to do effectively in that state of affairs, and I am very pleased that I made it,” Gasquet mentioned after beating Arnaldi.
