Marco Cecchinato thrilled to beat 'idol' Richard Gasquet in Bastad

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Italian tennis star Marco Cecchinato was very happy after beating Richard Gasquet since the Frenchman was one of the players he used to look up when he was younger. Cecchinato, ranked at No. 82 in the world, beat Gasquet 6-2 5-7 6-3 in the Bastad first round.

“I’m very happy for today because I beat Richard for the first time in my career,” Cecchinato said. “When I was young, he was my idol, so I’m very happy to beat him”. Gasquet, a former world No.

7, is now ranked at No. 54 in the world. “So many years he was in the Top 10. He was like me with the one-handed backhand, his forehand, good kick, good drop shot,” Cecchinato, who will next face Francisco Cerundolo or Federico Coria, said.

“He was my idol for that, so I’m very happy with this match today”.

Cecchinato edged out Gasquet

Cecchinato made a good start to the match, having broken Gasquet in the second game to take a 2-0 lead. In the following game, Gasquet had a chance to break back Cecchinato but the Italian saved four break points to take a 3-0 lead.

Cecchinato then earned his second break of the match in the eighth game to comfortably win the opener. After winning the opener, Cecchinato made a good start to the second set as he took an early 2-0 lead. Gasquet failed to convert a break point in the third game but earned his first break of the match in the fifth game to reduce the deficit to 3-2.

The Frenchman then earned his second break of the match in the 11th game, before serving out for the second set a game later. After blowing a solid lead in the second set, Cecchinato regrouped as he started the third set with a 3-0 lead. Cecchinato saved a break point in the seventh game, before serving out for the match in the ninth game.