This is the 16th title of his career, the first since June 2018 in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, in the Nederlands. Richard Gasquet won the ATP 250 tournament in Auckland on the night of Friday to Saturday (French time), dominating in the final the Englishman Cameron Norrie, 12th player in the world (4-6, 6-4, 6-4).
The 36-year-old Biterrois reacted perfectly after letting the first set slip away on a failed service game. He notably erased three games behind in the third set, before breaking his 27-year-old British opponent in the ninth game, then concluding on his first match point.
Norrie, who beat Rafael Nadal in the United Cup at the end of December, lost momentum as the game progressed.
67th in the ATP rankings, Gasquet will return to the top 50 on Monday, from which he left in April 2021. He will thereby again become French number 1, before entering the Australian Open on Tuesday against his compatriot Ugo Humbert. Hoping he didn’t leave too many forces behind in the Battle of Auckland.