Gasquet vs Lopez: Two veterans, one ticket for the Final 4
Win and you’re in. The mission is a simple one on Saturday at UTS as Group A’s undefeated alpha dogs Richard Gasquet and Feliciano Lopez prepare to earn a coveted semi-final slot.
A month ago at UTS1, sudden death was sudden glory for The Virtuoso. Forced into a nip-and-tuck battle with El Torero, the Frenchman relied on pinpoint serving and aced his way through the tightest of tussles to qualify for the semi-finals.
“Maybe he’s been calm and collected because he hasn’t been put under that much pressure, hasn’t looked like he’s going to lose a match,” praised UTS commentator Pete Odgers. “Everything looking good for Richard Gasquet, as in UTS1, but it could all tumble down.”
A second ever win for Lopez over Gasquet?
This time El Torero will be out for revenge and he can take confidence from the fact that he erased a 7-1 lead in the fourth quarter to take Gasquet to sudden death.
“He won the sudden death against Dimitrov in UTS 2,” Odgers said of Lopez. “It feels like he’s got the luck so maybe he’ll be telling himself: ‘This is my time! I’m going to beat Richard Gasquet for the second time in my career.'”
Resplendent, regal and relentless, The Virtuoso has been masterful ever since UTS began, but if he lets down his guard don’t be surprised if the cagey Lopez takes the bull by the horns and swoops in for the kill.
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