Rafael Nadal vs Richard Gasquet: Bartoli begs Gasquet to avoid French Open humiliation
MARION BARTOLI has pleaded with Richard Gasket not to embarrass himself against Rafael Nadal in front of his home fans
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Nadal will take to the court in Paris on Sunday looking to book his place in the last-16 of the French Open.
The Spaniard has beaten Gasquet in each of their previous 15 meetings and he is expected to do so again with relative ease.
However, Wimbledon women’s winner Bartoli thinks Gasquet will have to be at “500 percent” to have even the slightest chance of nicking a result.
The ITV pundit says she cannot see any hope for her fellow Frenchman and she pleaded for him to at least put in a decent performance.
He will need a 500 percent Richard and Rafa to have an awful day
“Honestly, If I’m trying to put myself in his shoes, I don’t think he can win this match and I don’t know how he can find the belief,” she told ITV.
“He has to try and play to his fullest and then he might have the slightest chance but that is very unlikely.
“He will need a 500 percent Richard and Rafa to have an awful day.
“The only thing I don’t want is for him to play ridiculous here in France in front of his own fans.
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“Please cause some problems to Rafa. I don’t see him winning but at least cause him some problems and don’t get embarrassed.”
Nadal and Gasquet are third on Court Philippe-Chatrier, following two WTA fixtures.
The winner will face either Maximilian Marterer or Jurgen Zopp in the quarter-finals.