Gasquet gets over Bubka hurdle in Dubai Open

Richard Gasquet set up a possible all-French quarter-final clash at the Dubai Open after a come-from-behind victory over wild card Sergei Bubka on Wednesday. Gasquet came from 2-5 down to win 6-2, 7-5 against the Ukrainian son of the world famous Soviet pole-vaulter of the same name, to reach the last eight of the men's ATP event. There, Gasquet should face compatriot Gilles Simon, who is favourite to beat the Czech qualifier Lukas Rosol, with an ensuing scenario of a Frenchman facing Roger Federer in Saturday's semis becoming likely. Gasquet's encouraging fightback earned him a chance of winning three successive matches in an ATP World Tour event for the first time in five months. It also raised hopes that the 24-year-old former world number seven is containing the shoulder problems which have hindered his efforts to climb from last year's low of 86 back into the top ten again. "I am trying to play more aggressively and to start matches better," said Gasquet, who has so far got to number 28. "And trying my best to become the best player in the world -- but I need time." He started well against Bubka, breaking serve with the help of a successful Hawkeye appeal for 3-2, saving a break back point in the next game with a solid serve and forcing follow-up, and pushing through with four games in a row to take the set. But when Gasquet played a bad game to gift Bubka a break of serve at the start of the second set, the balance of confidence shifted. The tall, dynamic 24-year-old began to justify the organisers' faith in his abilities, launching some steep and powerful serves, and piling into some uninhibited follow-ups. During this phase Bubka was unrecognisable as a player ranked down at 342 in the world, and surged through to a 5-2 lead before faltering. "I had to save the second set because I knew I could be into a difficult third set," said Gasquet. "I had to avoid that. "I knew it could be tense when he had to serve to win the set. I just tried to get the ball back into court. Maybe I have more experience than him in that situation." Bubka certainly made some bad choices in those crucial moments as he tried to close the set out with his powerful serve at 5-3. He snatched at a smash and sent it long, over-forced with a forehand and dragged it into the net, and then double-faulted before making another ground-stroking error to allow Gasquet's break-back. After that the Neuchatel-based Frenchman played better again, holding serve well for 5-5 and breaking again with a tenacious defensive lob which brought another smashing error from Bubka. Gasquet closed it out with a characteristically graceful backhand topspin winner down the line before describing the inhibitions which had contributed to his mid-match dip. "It's not easy to win the game when you are the favourite," he said Gasquet. "And I had never played him before so didn't know how he played." Then he sounded more optimistic. "It would be good to play a quarter-final against Gilles," said Gasquet, pleased for France perhaps, but mindful too perhaps of his impressive head-to-head record against his compatriot.