MONTE CARLO, 16 April 2005 — World No. 1 Roger Federer’s 25-match winning streak was broken at the Monte Carlo Masters yesterday when French teenager Richard Gasquet stormed to a dramatic 6-7, 6-2, 7-6 victory in the quarterfinals. The 18-year-old qualifier ripped a backhand winner down the line on his third match point to win a tension-filled third set tiebreak 10-8 after two hours 18 minutes of tennis.
Gasquet bounced back from losing the first set against a below-par Federer, dominating the second with some free-flowing winners and sublime touch around the net.
Roared on by the crowd, he moved into a 5-3 lead in the decider only for his nerve to fail him. Standing at match point, Gasquet opened up the court perfectly, but swiped a volley way beyond the baseline.
As the match moved into a tiebreak Gasquet’s chance looked to have disappeared, but this time Federer was found wanting, twice finding the tramlines on match points, while Gasquet saved another with a huge serve.
Ferrero advanced with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Italy’s Filippo Volandri. Coria, seeded No. 6, overcame a sloppy start to beat David Ferrer of Spain 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 and reach the last four.
Holder Venus Upended by Golovin in Charleston
In Charleston, South Carolina, champion Venus Williams was unceremoniously dumped out of the Family Circle Cup on Thursday, beaten 7-5 6-4 by 17-year-old Tatiana Golovin of France in the third round.
Top seed Lindsay Davenport, No. 2 Elena Dementieva and former world No. 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne all advanced but fourth seeded Williams paid the price for an error-laden performance, particularly on her forehand.
The American looked back on track when she broke back in the seventh game but Golovin, the world number 25, attacked the Williams forehand, broke again to lead 6-5 and then saved a break point on her own serve to take the opening set.
