Benoit Paire makes dominant start in Marseille but Richard Gasquet makes shock exit

Michael Graham
February 19, 2020

Benoit Paire progressed into the second round of the Open 13 Provence in Marseille with a straight sets win over fellow-Frenchman Gregoire Barrere, but Richard Gasquet was a high-profile casualty.

The clash between the two compatriots ended with the sixth seed and world top-20 player claiming a 6-4 7-6 (1) victory.

Barrera was one of two home players to exit the competition in the main draw, the other being Richard Gasquet.

Mikael Ymer overcame the experienced Gasquet in a marathon first-round match which lasted two hours and 22 minutes, the Swede eventually emerging a 6-3 3-6 7-5 victor.

Ukrainian Alexander Bublik sealed a second-round meeting with Paire after coming through against Hungary Marton Fucsovics 6-4 7-5.

At the Delray Beach Open, Kwon Soon-woo secured an impressive first-round win over seventh seed Adrian Mannarino, recovering from a one-sided first set to clinch a 1-6 6-3 6-2 victory.

Wild card Ryan Harrison of the United States joined him in the last-16 with a 6-3 -2 win over Damir Dzumhur.

Fellow American Brandon Nakashima tasted victory over Jiri Vesely by a 7-6 (4) 6-1 score and another home player Mackenzie McDonald got the better of Yasutaka Uchiyama to reach the second round.

It was a better day for Uchiyama’s Japanese compatriot Yoshihito Nishioka, however, with the 24-year-old upsetting fifth-seeded Australian John Millman 3-6 6-4 6-2.

After a tight first set, American Frances Tiafoe ran away with the second to defeat Emilio Gomez of Ecuador 7-6 (3) 6-2.

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Benoit Paire Richard Gasquet