America ready for French renaissance in Gasquet and Monfils
Published:Not since Henri Cochet in 1928 has France tasted victory in the men’s US Open, but Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet are on the hunt for glory as they face each other in the fourth round this afternoon.
The men’s game was dominated by France during the 1920’s and 30’s, the quartet of Jean Borotra, Jacques Brugnon, Rene Lacoste and Cochet, dubbed the four musketeers, won a total of 20 Grand Slams between them.
French tennis is on the rise, the first round saw 12 Frenchmen progress, but after the third round French hopes are now pinned on two men, as the new musketeers seek to rid their inconsistent images.
Gasquet, 8/11 to win the tie, is yet to drop a set in the tournament and his display when knocking out Nikolay Davydenko was seriously impressive.
Monfils, 1/1 to progress, hasn’t been as impressive as his fellow countryman, dropping three sets on his march to the fourth round, but has the ability to beat Gasquet which he proved when winning 2-0 when the two last met in 2009.
The two can’t be separated with two wins apiece in their head-to-head matches, but Gasquet did emerge victorious on the only time the two have ever faced each other in a major tournament – Gasquet won 3-1 in Australia 2007.
The same scoreline to occur today is 10/3 but Gasquet is in such impressive form that the 7/2 offered for a 3-0 victory is tempting.
Elsewhere, third seed Novak Djokovic takes on in-form Mardy Fish which promises to be an epic battle with Djokovic 11/2 and Fish 7/1 to win in five sets.
Djokovic is unbeaten against the American in four attempts and is 3/10 to progress.
Gasquet continues his recovery since his drugs ban and is 50/1 to triumph at Flushing Meadows. See the full US Open tennis betting market here.
