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4/21/09 3:12 PM | Ricky Dimon
Gaston Gaudio overcomes Diego Junqueira in three sets in the Barcelona first round on Tuesday afternoon. It is Gaudio's first win in the main draw of an ATP event since the 2007 French Open.
Gaston Gaudio came back from the figurative dead just to play in this week's Open Banco Sabadell in Barcelona, Spain. On Tuesday afternoon, he came back from the dead to stun Diego Junqueira.
Gaudio defeated Junqueira 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in two hours and 14 minutes to win his first match in the main draw of an ATP event since the opening round of the 2007 French Open.
While Gaudio eventually had to stage a furious rally in order to accomplish the feat, he got off to a strong start against his fellow Argentine. The opening set came down simply to first-serve percentages, as neither man was winning many of his second-serve points, so putting in the first deliveries proved to be critical. Gaudio made 81 percent of his first serves in the opening set, while Junqueira served at a dismal 44 percent. After exchanging one break of serve each, Gaudio's second break of the set finished it off 6-4.
Junqueira, who is 28 years old but really just starting to make a name for himself at 77th in the world rankings, raised his all-around level considerably in the second set. The two Argentines traded breaks en route to 4-3 before Junqueira broke again for a 5-3 lead and forced a decisive third set with a routine service hold.
With momentum firmly in hand against a seemingly fading Gaudio, Junqueira seized a quick break in the final frame of play and raced to a 4-2 lead. On his opponent's ensuing service game, Junqueira had several break chances to go up a double-break at 5-2; what would almost certainly been an insurmountable advantage.
Never one to be known for his mental fortitude despite winning the 2004 French Open, Gaudio suddenly began storming back, saving all of the break points and holding for 3-4. Still up a break but visibly shaken by the failure to capitalize on a massive opportunity, Junqueira promptly dropped serve to bring Gaudio level at 4-4. A game-ending foot-fault down break point at 4-3 all but sealed Junqueira's fate. Gaudio refused to let his reeling countryman back in the match, as the former world No. 5 held serve for 5-4 and finished off the proceedings in style with his sixth break of the match.
This is not exactly as monumental as his shocking 8-6 in the fifth win over heavily-favored Guillermo Coria in the 2004 Roland Garros final, but it has to be an emotional win for Gaudio. Plagued by various physical problems ever since the end of 2007, he played in just two tournaments all of last season and had been struggling in 2009 prior to his victory. Gaudio suffered a quadriceps injury in his first appearance of the season, went 2-3 in matches at the Challenger level upon his return, then failed to qualify in both Miami and Houston.
Will Tuesday's comeback win lead to bigger and better things in Barcelona? It will take a big upset for that to happen, as No. 6 seed Tommy Robredo is next up for Gaudio. Robredo received a first-round bye as one of the tournament's top eight seeds. They have met on seven previous occasions, with Gaudio leading the head-to-head series 4-3.
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I agree. News does not get much better than this. Nor more surprising - I thought he would win, but NOT when he was down 4-2 and break points in the third!
RickyDimon , 4/21/09 5:13 PM
It's always good to see a former champion come back after some time off the tour..
In my eyes, Gaudio can call this a successful tournament, even if he loses next round.
Fiberlight1 , 4/21/09 9:28 PM
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Worked late, set my alarm clock and missed it. BUT, what a great way to wake up to a result like this. :)
Nice job Ricky!
Kelli , 4/21/09 4:06 PM