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Gasquet edges out Verdasco

Richard Gasquet showed real fighting skills to beat Fernando Verdasco © Getty Images

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Richard Gasquet limbered up for his clash with Andy Murray at the French Open in fine style as he secured a 6-3 5-7 7-6(5) win over Fernando Verdasco in the final of the Nice Open.

Murray was left cursing his luck after being pulled out against one of the most dangerous of the unseeded players in the draw for the French Open.

Gasquet is reviving his fortunes after a spell out of the game but is still outside of the top 50. That makes him a dangerous floater in any draw and he proved the point with a fine win over Verdasco.

Verdasco is a fine exponent of the clay-court arts, but Gasquet is a fine exponent of the game of tennis and took victory in determined style.

Gasquet forced the pace in the opening set but it took him some time to secure the break, as he squandered four opportunities before closing out the set.

The Frenchman has been accused of lacking mental strength in the past and those frailties appeared to rear up in the second set. Gasquet served for the match in the 10th game but Verdasco broke with ease and promptly took the set to force a decider.

Verdasco secured a break at the start of the deciding set and had a chance to move 5-1 ahead, but Gasquet saved a break point and immediately broke back. The two traded further breaks and the match moved into a final-set tie-break.

Nerves looked to play a part as aces and double faults were traded in the breaker. Gasquet had every chance to wilt under the pressure, but wrapped up the match with a break of the Verdasco serve and will now head to Paris with a spring in his step.

Meanwhile, Argentina won the ARAG World Team for the first time since 2007 after impressive showings from Juan Monaco and Horacio Zeballos.

Monaco got Argentina off to a winning start, battling back from a set down to beat Sam Querrey 1-6 6-2 6-3. The Argentine was outplayed in the opening set, but bounced back in stunning fashion, allowing Querrey just six points on his own serve as he drew level. The world No. 30 edged a nervy final set to put Argentina in the driving seat.

With the USA needing a victory to take the match to a decider, world No. 98 Robby Ginepri faced an uphill battle after going a set down against Zeballos. Despite taking the match to a deciding set, Ginepri was unable to make inroads into Zeballos' serve in the final set as the Argentine wrapped up the match 6-4 6-7(7) 7-5.

With Argentina claiming an unassailable 2-0 lead, the doubles match between Bob and Mike Bryan and Diego Veronelli and Eduardo Schwank was merely a chance for the Bryan twins to salvage some pride for the USA, and they needed just 43 minutes to wrap up a 6-1 6-2 victory.

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