ATP Lyon, Geneva and French Open Qualifying Check-In
By Deke Lloyd
There is plenty of happenings in the ATP this week. Tournaments in Lyon and Geneva both have strong fields with a lot of intrigue. And French Open qualifying is in full swing just to add to the mix.
Geneva
Daniil Medvedev-Richard Gasquet
Daniil Medvedev’s return to tennis was the big story of the day in Geneva. After a lengthy layoff with a hernia injury, Medvedev has returned to tennis in Geneva to get ready for the French Open next week. In his return match, he would face the crafty veteran, Richard Gasquet.
Daniil Medvedev did not get the welcome back to the ATP tour that he expected. Gasquet, still very capable of producing some awe-inspiring tennis on the red clay, gave Medvedev no time to find his game as he hurried to a 6-2 first set win.
After going down a quick break and a 3-0 hole in the second set, Medvedev was starting to show some frustrations. Medvedev would fight back to force the second set to a tie-break, but it was Gasquet who would take the tie-break and the match to dash Medvedev’s hope of a victorious return.
Other Notable Geneva Results
Joao Sousa beats Pablo Andujar-Alba
Christopher O’Connell upsets Albert Ramos-Vinolas
Thanasi Kokkinakis beats Fabio Fogini
Lyon
Cam Norrie-Francisco Cerundolo
Cameron Norrie is the top seed in Lyon and his campaign got underway today against Francisco Cerundolo. Cerundolo is a very experienced player on clay and would not be a walkover for Norrie. Cerundolo came out hot in the first set and take an early break, but was unable to solidify the break. Norrie would break Cerundolo again at 5-4 to take the first set, 6-4.
Norrie would maintain his level in the second set and Cerundolo couldn’t take advantage. Cerundolo would get sloppy on serve again, losing serve at 5-4 to lose the second set and match. It was a very nice win for Cam Norrie who is hoping to build some momentum heading into Roland Garros.
Ugo Humbert-Alex de Minaur
Ugo Humbert is one of the more talented young players on tour at the moment, but his results in 2022 haven’t shown that. Humbert was hoping to find a win here in Lyon against Alex de Minaur, who played in Barcelona less than a month ago. That match would go three sets with de Minaur coming out as the victor.
Humbert came out firing, sprinting out to a 5-0 lead in the first set. Humbert would close the first set out, 6-1. Despite playing some fantastic tennis in that first set, Humbert would still have to close out the tough Aussie.
Alex de Minaur, a semi-finalist in Barcelona, has been playing some solid tennis on the red clay. Like Humbert, de Minaur was struggling earlier in the season and was looking to get as much momentum as possible heading into the French Open. After surviving a full onslaught from Humbert, de Minaur was able to take the second set, 6-3.
Humbert did a good job to hold steady in the third set but eventually would waver. Alex de Minaur was able to break Humbert twice in the third set to take the deciding set, 6-2.