The GERRY WEBER OPEN are a comfortable tournament for Florian Mayer. This showed in the German's first match against Richard Gasquet. Even though the Frenchman had travelled to Halle with a tournament victory from s’Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands in his bag, Florian Mayer stayed ahead of a, truthfully, slightly off-coloured Richard Gasquet 6:2, 6:2.
From the beginning the GERRY WEBER OPEN-winner of 2016 played very concentrated and with his unconventional way of play he is a difficult task for any opponant on grass. In Richard Gasquets' first service the 34 year old German had two break points, which he didn't use, though. But by the second service it was time. 2:1 for Florian Mayer, who was then not being stopped. He brought through his service solidly, added the next break. And he was enjoying his game, getting points even with a "Becker-Dive" After 31 minutes Florian Mayer had decided the first set 6:2.
While the German moved well, Richard Gasquet seemed a little blocked. Ahead of the second round he had his back treated by the physio therepist. The table however still wasn't turned by that in the second set. Florian Mayer led the way on the Centre Court, was much more lively and put a lot of pressure on his opponant. The next break was only logical 2:1. And Florian Mayer got through his routine, left Richard Gasquet with no chance: 6:2, 6:2.
"Richard tried everything, but it's not easy for a player who has won a title in the previous week to keep up the eagerness. For me it's super to defeat a top player in my last year here", Florian Mayer said happily after the match.
