France boasts seven men ranked inside the world's Top 50.

Lucas Pouille isn't one of them, but Richard Gasquet is convinced it's just a matter of time before the 82-ranked Pouille is French No. 1.

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The wild card surprised Gasquet in Monte Carlo yesterday with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory that left that 10th-ranked Gasquet touting the 22-year-old Pouille as the nation's future premier player.

"He's a very good player. You need to congratulate him for his match," Gasquet said of Pouille. "He hit the ball well. He served well...

"I need to congratulate my opponent. I'm sure he will become the No. 1 in France very soon."

The upset of Gasquet was Pouille's second Top 10 victory in a month. He edged eighth-ranked David Ferrer to reach the Miami Open round of 16 before absorbing a 6-0, 6-1 thrashing at the hands of compatriot Gilles Simon.

"He plays well. I know he's able to play extremely well," Gasquet said of Pouille, who lost to French No. 1 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Monte Carlo today. "He's a great player. He has a good forehand, a good backhand. He moves better than he did before."


Photo credit: German Open Tennis Championships am Rothenbaum