Montpellier, France (SportsNetwork.com) – Former champion Richard Gasquet
eased into the semifinals, while towering Pole Jerzy Janowicz subdued second-
seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon in Friday’s quarterfinal action at the Open Sud
de France tennis event.
The fourth-seeded French crowd favorite Gasquet grounded sixth seed Denis
Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-3, 6-4.
The former top-10 star Gasquet captured this tournament in Lyon in 2006 and
in here Montpellier two years ago and was last year’s runner-up to fellow
countryman Gael Monfils.
Meanwhile, the fifth-seeded 6-foot-8 Janowicz reached his first ATP semifinal
since last August by vanquishing the three-time Open Sud semifinalist Simon
6-2, 7-5 in 75 minutes at Montpellier Arena.
“Definitely I played my best match of the season,” said Janowicz. “Today, I
knew I had to play my best tennis because Gilles moves incredibly well on the
court. He also reads the game so well and he’s one of the best returners in
the world. I knew I had to be focused on my serve all the time. I did that and
I was playing aggressive throughout.”
Janowicz’ semifinal opponent on Saturday will be rising seventh-seeded
Portuguese Joao Sousa, who upended third-seeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber
7-6 (7-5), 6-4 on Day 5.
The 2015 Montpellier champion will earn $90,000.
