Estoril Open 2007 News and Events

The 18th edition of the Estoril Open will witness its youngest-ever final, when World No. 5 Novak Djokovic of Serbia takes on France’s Richard Gasquet, currently No. 15 in the ATP Rankings.

The pair has met on one occasion at ATP-level. Djokovic won their ATP Masters Series Madrid second round clash 7-6(2), 1-6, 6-1 in October 2006. He also beat Gasquet on the ATP Challenger Circuit in Cherbourg, France, in 2005. Head-to-Head

Djokovic advanced to his fourth ATP final of the year, when the ATP World No. 5 knocked out World No. 7 Tommy Robredo of Spain 7-5, 6-1 on Saturday.

Second-seeded Robredo served for the first set at 5-4, but Djokovic recovered to win the next nine of 10 games for victory in 80 minutes.

Robredo, who finish runner-up to Gaston Gaudio in 2005, won just 18 of 47 points in the second set – nine on serve and nine of return of serve.

Djokovic leads the ATP circuit with a 30-6 season record, which includes two ATP titles at Adelaide (d. Guccione) and ATP Masters Series Miami (d. Canas). He also finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal at ATP Masters Series Indian Wells in March.

The 19-year-old reached his first European clay-court final at Amersfoort in July last year, when he sealed his maiden ATP crown with victory over Nicolas Massu.

He retired with respiratory problems against Stanislas Wawrinka in the Umag final the following week.

Robredo, who celebrated his 25th birthday on Tuesday, falls to 19-10 this year with his best performance coming at Auckland when he reached the final only to lose to Spanish compatriot David Ferrer.

In the second semi-final, Paul-Henri Mathieu retired with a right hip injury while trailing French compatriot Gasquet 3-1 after 18 minutes.

Mathieu picked up the injury during his second round win over Igor Kunitsyn of Russia on Tuesday. The 25-year-old captured his third career ATP title in Casablanca last week (d. Montanes) and was riding an eight-match winning streak.

The World No. 42 falls to 18-9 this year.

Gasquet will contest his first ATP final since clinching the Lyon title (d. Gicquel) in October 2006. The 20-year-old improves to 22-8 this season.

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID

Djokovic: “I had to be patient and I just tried to make some chances and some opportunities for the winners and that’s what I started to play after 5-3 for him in the first set. Since then I played a totally different game and I am really happy that I managed to come back physically as well. Right now after two three sets win I feel great and I have a lot of time for tomorrow to recover and get ready for the final.

“I’ve played both of them a couple of times, I played Mathieu, I won against a long time ago, I’ve played against Gasquet, I won I think a few times. I think its going to be a very interesting match between them today, they are both friends and they know each others games very well, so I think tomorrow whoever wins it will be a great final. They are very good players with a lot of qualities.”

Gasquet: "It was strange for me because I won and he retired at 3-1, so it was really strange but that’s life on the tour, sometimes you are injured, it’s difficult.

"I didn’t know he was injured, I know he was a little bit tired, because he won last week a tournament but I didn’t know he was injured. It’s not easy, because he is a friend, and he is French, I was a little bit cut because he was injured, but I am also happy because I am in the final.

On playing Djokovic in the final: "I don’t know anything is possible, maybe a little bit the favourite because he is ranked No.5 in the world. He won a lot of tournaments this year, he has a lot of confidence, I know that I can win this match if I play good.

ESTORIL OPEN RE-CAP
Friday: Djokovic vs Robredo; Gasquet vs Mathieu in SFs
Thursday: Robredo Fights Back to Sink Martin
Wednesday: Djokovic into QFs; Davydenko Falls in Opener
Tuesday: Mathieu Continues Hot Streak
Monday: Djokovic Edges Andreev in Epic Battle
Sunday: Querrey, Kunitsyn Win into Second Round