🎾 ATP Bucharest: Gasquet vs Cobolli

🎾 ATP Bucharest: Gasquet vs Cobolli – Match Preview

🧠 Form & Context

🟥 Richard Gasquet

• 🎾 Veteran experience: The 38-year-old continues to battle, with a solid run in Pau and a tough R1 win over Van de Zandschulp.
• 💪 Clay spark: Still has great feel for the surface—1–0 on clay this year and historically comfortable with its tempo.
• ⚠️ Physical limitations: Long rallies and match stamina remain major question marks at this stage of his career.
• 📉 Recent struggles: Ended 2024 on a 3–11 run in main draws; 2025 hasn’t sparked a major turnaround yet (4–4).

🟩 Flavio Cobolli

• 🔥 Youth surge: The 22-year-old Italian has entered the top 50 with consistent results across surfaces.
• 💥 Big Miami moment: Scored a solid win over Tirante and pushed Nishikori and Machac in competitive losses.
• 📈 Versatile form: Strong 11–9 clay record in 2024; unbeaten on clay this year (3–0).
• 🚧 Upside with flaws: Full of promise but can get tight in big moments or when dragged into longer patterns.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Gasquet still boasts one of the silkiest one-handed backhands on tour, and on clay, his net play and angles can be very effective. However, his fitness in extended rallies and matches is a persistent concern. He’ll look to play short points and change pace often.

Cobolli brings youth, legs, and aggressive intent. If he finds his forehand and keeps up the pressure, he can grind Gasquet down physically. His movement advantage on clay is significant, and he’ll want to avoid falling into Gasquet’s slower rhythm or trading too many touch shots.

Their 2023 Challenger meeting went three sets, with Gasquet eventually taking it. This time, the dynamic may shift, given Cobolli’s upward momentum and Gasquet’s ongoing physical limitations.

🔮 Prediction

Pick: Cobolli in 3 sets

Gasquet may still have the tools to frustrate, but over the course of a physical match, Cobolli’s speed, consistency, and clay-court form should wear him down.