Rotterdam 2023: Stan Wawrinka vs Richard Gasquet preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | ABN AMRO Open
Match details
Fixture: (PR) Stan Wawrinka vs Richard Gasquet
Date: February 15, 2023
Tournament: ABN AMRO Open 2023
Round: Second Round (Round of 16)
Venue: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Category: ATP 500
Surface: Indoor hardcourt
Prize money: €2,074,505
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Stan Wawrinka vs Richard Gasquet preview
Three-time Major champion Stan Wawrinka will take on World No. 45 Richard Gasquet in the second round of the 2023 ABN AMRO Open on Wednesday.
Wawrinka was up against Alexander Bublik in the first round. Both players remained unshakeable on serve for most of the opening set. The Swiss did hold a set point on his opponent's serve at 5-4, but failed to close it out as the Kazakh dug deep to get himself out of trouble.
However, Wawrinka got the job done in the ensuing tie-break to clinch the opener. The second set was a bit more straightforward. A break of serve in the fifth game put the 37-year-old in the lead, which he never surrendered. Wawrinka soon wrapped up the proceedings to win the match 7-6(5), 6-4.
Gasquet, meanwhile, was drawn against seventh seed Pablo Carreno Busta in the first round. The Frenchman was off to a slow start as he dropped serve twice in the opening set to lose it. He trailed 4-2 in the second set, but raised his level in time to equal the score.
Gasquet played some brilliant tennis to come out on top in the tie-break and take the contest into a deciding set. The 36-year-old was firmly in control of the match by then and quickly raced to a 4-0 lead in the final set. The Frenchman completed a 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 comeback win soon after that.
Stan Wawrinka vs Richard Gasquet head-to-head
Gasquet leads Wawrinka 3-1 in the head-to-head. He won their previous encounter at the 2022 European Open in three sets.
Stan Wawrinka vs Richard Gasquet odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Stan Wawrinka vs Richard Gasquet prediction
Gasquet looked like he was about to slump to a third consecutive first-round loss, but staged a great comeback to oust Carreno-Busta. It was his milestone 350th win on hardcourt. The Frenchman fired 13 aces while hitting 34 winners compared to 24 unforced errors.
Wawrinka played quite well to defeat Bublik. He served and volleyed a fair number of times during the match. His serve held up quite well, but his movement remains dodgy.
Two of Wawrinka's three wins this year have come against Bublik, who's in the midst of a 10-match losing streak. His last three matches against Gasquet have gone the distance and this could be another close fight to the finish.
Gasquet and Wawrinka's one-handed backhands are highly rated and fans will be eager to see them square off. Despite being on tour for two decades, they've faced off just four times prior to this. The Frenchman has the upper hand in their rivalry and given his current form, he is likely to come out on top yet again.
Pick: Richard Gasquet to win in three sets.