Rennes Challenger: Gaston Grinds Out a Painful Win and Eyes Showdown with Wawrinka
Carried by his seeded status but far from serene, Hugo Gaston had to battle his way out of a trap set by Chidekh. A suspenseful victory that reignites his ambitions, just a few points away from the Top 100.
After a one-sided first set, the Toulouse native was clearly dominated in the next, sorely lacking efficiency in key moments (0/3 break points). Nevertheless, despite this setback, Gaston eventually prevailed after 1 hour and 54 minutes of play with a score of 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 against his compatriot Clément Chidekh.
Following his quarterfinal run in Phoenix last March, the young Frenchman showed resilience to qualify for the final of the Breton tournament. Now, he must await the result of the other semifinal, where three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka faces Germany’s Zahraj.
Finally, thanks to this latest performance, Gaston has temporarily climbed to No. 112 in the ATP rankings.
