By Chris Oddo | Sunday June 17, 2017
Richard Gasquet took the all-French final at the Libema Open over Jeremy Chardy to claim his 15th career title.
Photo Source: Libema Open
Richard Gasquet delivered a clutch performance to take down compatriot Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 7-6(5) in Sunday’s Libema Open final at ‘s-Hertogenbosch. The 31-year-old becomes the fourth French winner in Holland in the last six years, and he claims his first title on grass since he won the Nottingham trophy in 2006.
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Gasquet improve to 5-1 lifetime over Chardy and 15-15 lifetime in finals.
The match was close throughout the 90-minute contest but always Gasquet had a little something extra on the biggest points. Gasquet came out on top after a run of three consecutive breaks left him with a 5-3 lead in the first set and a chance to serve for the set.
It was one of many impressive backhand passing shots that gave Gasquet the critical break and he served the set out with ease in the next game.
Chardy took a lead in the second set and even earned two set points while serving at 5-3, but Gasquet saved the first with another wicked backhand pass and drew and error from Chardy to get to deuce before finally breaking on his second break point of the game.
The second-set tiebreaker was tight but again Gasquet pulled through, winning four of the final five points and clinching victory on his second championship point.