Gasquet to face Simon in all-French final

BANGKOK: Richard Gasquet credited luck and a fighting spirit as he salvaged a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen to book an all-French final at the Thailand Open yesterday.
Gasquet, the second seed playing the tournament for the first time, said he seemed destined to lose trailing the 2010 finalist and seventh seed 6-3, 4-0 before turning the tide in s struggle lasting for nearly two hours Gasquet will play for the title on Sunday against compatriot Gilles Simon, who upset top seed Janko Tipsarevic 6-4, 6-4.
Gasquet owns a 5-0 record against his good friend.
“I thought I was going to lose for sure. I was frustrated in the first set and was playing badly,” said the 14th-ranked Gasquet, now 4-1 over Nieminen.
“But down 4-0 I was able to start playing better. He got tight when he was serving for it, had a double fault and I was back in the match when I broke him.
“It was a huge challenge for me and I’m glad I came through, but I really thought I wouldn’t make it.
Gasquet took control in the final set as the 31-year-old Nieminen’s game went off the boil.
But the Finn saved two match points in the final game on his serve before taking the bitter loss when he sent a backhand wide.
Gasquet, winner in Estoril and the Toronto Masters this season, said that playing Simon will be important. “He’s my friend and we know each other’s games well.
“At least we know there will be a French winner.” Simon, the fourth seed and 2009 champion, said he took full advantage of a welcome state of fitness on the day against Tipsarevic after battling over the past few seasons with problems including knee, back and currently, a shoulder niggle.
“Every time I go into a match feeling good, it puts pressure on me,” said the ATP number 19. “I feel that I need to take advantage of whatever fitness I have.” Simon came out the better on a number of long rallies with Tipsarevic, who was aiming to win a second Asian title after claiming Kuala Lumpur honors a year ago this week.
But the Frenchman maintained control throughout after starting the afternoon with a break of serve.
The Frenchman’s win was his 38th of the season against 20 defeats.
Ferrer shocked in semis
In Kuala Lumpur, top seed and world No. 5 David Ferrer was given a rude shock in the semifinals of the Malaysian Open yesterday when Frenchman Julien Benneteau thrashed him in straight sets.
Ferrer, who looked sluggish from the start, had no answer to Benneteau’s power play and fell 6-4, 6-1 in 97 minutes.
Benneteau, who had lost his six previous finals this year, will have the chance to break his duck on Sunday when he takes on second seed Juan Monaco in the final of the $947,750 tennis tournament.
Monaco was given a scare by third seed Kei Nishikori before winning 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4).
“I was talking to my coach earlier today and told him I have not beaten a top 10 player this year,” said a delighted Benneteau.
“It was a close match at the beginning but I found my form in the second set to get the victory. I had some problems with my second serves and will have to correct that in the final.” A disappointed Ferrer said: “I gave it my all today but Julien was just too good. I have my chances in the first set but failed to capitalize. The second set was actually quite close, despite the score.
“He just took his chances to close out the match.” The semi-final started with multiple service breaks, with Ferrer guilty of committing unforced errors before the hard hitting Benneteau took control of the match with some punishing groundstrokes.
The normally mobile Ferrer was caught flatfooted on many occasions but he denied his two late night matches on Thursday and Friday was the reason behind his loss.
“I’m fine, don’t worry. Physically I have no issues and playing late matches is part of tennis,” said Ferrer. “Julien was on form today and deserved to win.” Earlier, Monaco survived three match points before beating Nishikori in three sets.

Nishikori, who called for the trainer when he was 5-2 down in the first set, came back strongly despite a troublesome right ankle, but didn’t have enough in the tank to secure victory.
He was also a losing semi-finalist in this tournament a year ago.