Two fratricidal struggles were on the program for the semi-finals this Saturday, October 12, on the blue and pink surface of the Halle Vacheresse course which has been hosting the 3rd edition of the Auverge-Rhône-Alpes Open in Roanne for a week. Two places were up for grabs for the final the next day and to try to succeed the winner of the previous edition in 2022, Hugo Gaston, and four French people were competing for them.
A sumptuous first match
Mattéo Martineau (204th) was first opposed to Ugo Grenier (148th), the Montbrisonnais winner of the first edition of the Roan Challenger tournament in 2021. The day before, Mattéo Martinéo got rid of the Swiss Jérôme Kim (155th) in two sets (6/3, 7/6), while Hugo Grenier had spent even less time on the court. His opponent in the quarter-final, the Spaniard David Jorda Sanchis (415th), forfeited due to injury in the first set (5/4).
Stronger Martineau
The start of the first set proved to be very competitive, with both players showing solid play. Already leading 4/3, Mattéo Martineau made the first break, relying on a more varied game and taking advantage of the more numerous mistakes direct from Hugo Grenier. On his momentum, Mattéo Martineau pocketed the first round, 6/3.
The second set was just as uncertain between the two Frenchmen, who went blow for blow. More offensive and more precise, Mattéo Martineau did not materialize two break points at 4/4 and allowed Hugo Grenier, supported by the Vacheresse public to stay in the match. The Montbrisonnais finally took the debates into his own hands and won a set point at 6/5, but Mattéo Martineau finally pushed him into a decisive game. Hugo Grenier got three set points in the tie-break, and on the second pocketed the second set, 7/6 (7/4).
Mattéo Martineau broke from the start, delighting with his precise play, to take off in the last round, 3/0. Solid, point after point, game after game, he did not let Hugo Grenier come back to his level. He won on his first match point, 6/3, 6/7, 6/2, at the end of a sumptuous match which made Vacheresse stand up. “It’s a great match for me,” confirmed the man who qualified for his third final of the year. For a first title this Sunday?
Good blood, Bonzi !
The second match saw Luca Van Assche (121st), who defeated the No. 1 seed of the tournament, the Briton Cameron Norrie in the quarter-final, pit himself against Benjamin Bonzi (176th), author of a match memorable the day before to overcome Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
The duel between the two baseline hitters turned to Benjamin Bonzi’s advantage in the first set, won 6/4 in less than 45 minutes. In a much less intense match than the first, but with some high-flying points, Benjamin Bonzi was also in the lead in the second round. Without weakening, he won in less than 1h15 and two sets, 6/4, 6/1. “I’m a little tired, but I will be there and I will give my best to win the tournament tomorrow,” he declared after the match.
See you this Sunday, October 13 at 3 p.m. for this final which promises between two players with different styles of play. Who will win, offensive Mattéo Martineau or defensive Benjamin Bonzi?
