Thiem continues improvement with win over Gasquet in Metz

Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem continued his steady improvement as he clinched a morale-boosting 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory over Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the first round of the Metz Open on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old No 182, working his way back up the rankings from a low point of No 352 in June after almost a year out with a wrist injury, came from a break down in the second set to clinch victory.

“It was a very difficult challenge, as always, when you play against Richard,” Thiem said. “I think he won all his matches in Davis Cup so he came here in good form.

“It’s a very good sign for me, very happy about it. After five tough matches in Rennes, to pick it up here with slightly different conditions, very happy with my first match here.”

“Physically I’m feeling fine, that’s also good after last week,” he said. “With Richard it’s always long rallies, backhand to backhand. But it was great, we had a lot of long rallies, it was amazing for the rhythm. Super-happy with the win, really glad to get another match tomorrow.”

Hurkacz “a big challenge” in round two

His reward will be a meeting with second seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland in the second round, a man he has lost to in both their previous meetings.

“Hubert is top 10 right now,” he said. “He’s also title defender here if I’m not wrong, so you couldn’t have a bigger challenge. Also 0-2 against him head to head, so I will try everything I can to do my best tomorrow.”

Last week, Thiem reached his first final since 2020 when he made it to the title showdown in a Challenger Tour event in Rennes.

Metz ATP 250, other first-round results (Arènes de Metz, EUR 597.900, most recent results first):

• Gregoire Barrere (Q) beat Oscar Otte: 7-6 (3), 7-5
• Benjamin Bonzi beat Ugo Humbert (WC): 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
• Alexander Bublik (7) beat Evan Furness (Q): 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (5)
• Stan Wawrinka (Q) beat João Sousa: 7-6 (1), 6-2
• Mikael Ymer beat Adrian Mannarino (8): 7-5, 6-0
• Gilles Simon (WC) beat David Goffin: 6-3, 6-3
• Arthur Rinderknech beat Jaume Munar: 6-2, 2-6, 7-5
• Nikoloz Basilashvili (5) beat Zizou Bergs (Q): 4-6, 1-2 ret.
• Emil Ruusuvuori beat Jiri Lehecka: 6-4, 6-4
• Lorenzo Sonego beat Aslan Karatsev (6): 7-5, 6-3
• Sebastian Korda beat Hugo Gaston: 6-3, 7-6 (2)