Gaston Dominates Galarneau and Qualifies for the Brest Challenger Final

Hugo Gaston will try to win a new title on the secondary circuit this Sunday in Finistère.

Change of plans for Hugo Gaston. The Frenchman, initially invited by the Paris Masters 1000 organization to compete in the qualifications this weekend, was forced to give up his wild card in order to finish the Brest Challenger, in which the world No. 113 is currently competing.

After his victories against Calvin Hemery (6-1, 7-6), Francesco Maestrelli (7-6, 6-1) and Arthur Fery (7-6, 7-5), the player from Toulouse had earned the right to play in the semi-finals. Facing Gaston was Alexis Galarneau.

The 26-year-old Canadian had beaten Luca Nardi (6-4, 6-1) before eliminating two French players in Finistère, namely Arthur Bouquier (6-3, 5-7, 6-4) and Clément Tabur (6-4, 3-6, 6-3).

The two men had only faced each other once before, last August in the first round of the Cancun Challenger (6-3, 6-4). The left-hander got his revenge and dominated Galarneau in three sets (6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in 2h03).

He thus qualifies for the final where he will face Eliot Spizzirri. The ATP's 103rd-ranked player defeated Francesco Passaro in the other semi-final (7-6, 6-3 in 1h30). Gaston won their only previous encounter, in the second round of qualifying at the Indian Wells Masters 1000 earlier this year (6-0, 6-1).