UTS1 Day 9 preview: Richard Gasquet “The Virtuoso” vs Benoît Paire “The Rebel”
Watch our video preview of Ultimate Tennis Showdown Day 9 clash between fellow Frenchmen Richard Gasquet, ranked 2nd in UTS, and Benoit Paire, ranked 9th.
What do you get when you mix a Virtuoso and a Rebel? How about French flair and a flare for drama. All peppered with a dash of unpredictability. Expect all of it in spades on Saturday when Richard Gasquet
and Benoit Paire, two of the most stylish players in the UTS field, renew their friendship and rivalry at the Mouratoglou Academy.
“On court, it doesn’t matter if the opponent is your friend, claims Julien Cassaigne, Gasquet’s agent and coach at UTS. You try to win anyway. At UTS, on tour, anywhere. If it’s a friend or not, you try to win.”
Pete Odgers gave us his thoughts on Gasquet’s form:
“Richard Gasquet has played the best tennis here. The highest level. He can still, perhaps, claim top spot in the league and he’s gunning for that. But the way he weaves that wand of his off the backhand side. How he maneuvers opponents from side to side. He can get them off the court. He anticipates superbly well. He has played electric tennis from start to finish of the event.”
Gasquet looking for top spot
Paire and UTS seem made for each other, with The Rebel’s unique blend of brilliance and craziness shining through in the revolutionary format. Gasquet, The Virtuoso, has let his racquet do the talking and found a rich vein of form in the French Riviera over the past few weeks.
Anything’s possible. Especially when Benoit Paire is around but The Virtuoso has taken to UTS like a duck to water and with his place in the Final 4 already assured, he’ll want to maintain his form going into the semi-finals.
