Hugo Gaston, Rolex Paris Masters 2021, Simple Messieurs, 1/8 de Finale, Photo : Nicolas Gouhier / FFT
French qualifier Hugo Gaston’s fairytale run at the Paris Masters continued on Thursday night in front of an partisan home crowd as he beat young Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5.
An amazing second set saw the World No. 103 rally from 0-5 in the second set to win 20 of the last 21 points to take out the match.
“I was drifting off at that point, and he started to have a letdown, as well,” Gaston said after the match.
“He made a lot of mistakes, because I managed to have fast balls, slow balls, to have high balls. He started to lose his groove, and I stayed focused. This is why I managed to overturn the match in my favour.”
Gaston had battled to take the first set as his ‘unique’ left hand play upset the teenager, but the atmosphere jumped another level as Gaston’s incredible comeback began.
“The atmosphere was incredible,” he said.
“Honestly, I have been playing tennis for this. It was actually incredible. It was really wonderful to live this match with them.
“I actually won because they supported me from beginning to the end even when I had a letdown during the first or the second set, they were always cheering me. It’s incredible to have such a great public.”
Gaston will meet defending champion Daniil Medvedev next.
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