Richard Gasquet prevented a clean sweep of the top four seeds into the men's semi-finals when he fought back from two sets and break down to oust American Andy Roddick in the final match of a day of high drama.
Roddick looked to have secured a berth in the semi-finals when he took that commanding lead. And with his serve firing on all cylinders, he was continually frustrating Gasquet’s attempts at breaking him.
The story of how he then lost the match 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-3), 8-6 is not one of Roddick failing but rather of the Frenchman slowly but surely outplaying him.
It was no wonder that Roddick, a four-time champion on the grass at Queen's, looked bewildered for some time afterwards as to how another chance to secure the Wimbledon title he craves so much had slipped away from him.
He attacked from the word go, chasing every ball down, reaching even shots which looked nigh on impossible to play. Only Gasquet's powerful forehand gave the Frenchman a platform to make a match of it.
Driven on by his determination to make his fourth semi-final, the 24-year-old Texan was taking no hostages as he blasted his way through the opening two sets in a manner which suggested he was fulfilling a destiny carefully planned with his coach, former Wimbledon champion Jimmy Connors.
In the third, Gasquet was clearly facing defeat after falling behind from the opening game, but he was able to frustrate Roddick in the eighth game when the third seed’s serve finally broke down. The American conceded two break points with a double fault and then the game itself with a poor forehand error.
That proved a turning point for Gasquet, making his fourth appearance at The Championships. The break lifted his game and spirits and also awoke the crowds who then became more and more involved as the match progressed.
Gasquet, with two Nottingham titles underlining his own credentials on grass, started highlighting weaknesses in Roddick’s game as he took control at the net, leaving his opponent rooted to the spot back on the baseline.
It was the turn of Gasquet to pile on the pressure and he did it with some relish, unleashing a barrage of backhands which stunned both the former finalist and the crowd. His serve also now held up well and his confidence rose as he watched his opponent wilt in turn and finally concede two sets on tie-breaks, an aspect of the game Roddick usually dominates.
With the match level it became a matter of who could hold their nerve longer and that was Gasquet as Roddick finally capitulated 8-6 in the deciding set, losing the second match point against him by netting a weak half-volley from another sweetly struck Gasquet backhand which arrived around his ankles.
It meant that Gasquet, seeded 12th, had gatecrashed the party planned by the tournament's top four seeds. His next challenge is to try to lead champion Roger Federer a merry dance in their semi-final, starting at midday on Saturday.
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