The Frenchman, 81st player in the world, dominated the Australian Jasika to validate his ticket for the 2nd round in Melbourne.
Despite a long interruption due to rain and a dropped set en route, Hugo Gaston qualified for the second round of the Australian Open on Sunday in Melbourne, winning against Australian Omar Jasika ( 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2).
The Frenchman, 81st player in the world, held his place against Jasika (179th) and confirms his taste for the Australian major, the only Grand Slam tournament where he reached the second round last year.
Gaston will face in the second round the winner of the meeting between the Czech Jiri Lehecka (29th) and the Australian Li Tu (168th).
After a first set quietly won 6-2 thanks to two breaks, rain arrived in Melbourne and interrupted the game for more than six hours.
Returning from the locker room, the Australian rallied and won the second set 6-3, pushed by his audience. But the Frenchman regained the upper hand in the third set, never worried about his serve and winning the last four games to win 6-2.
After a final scare and a break point dismissed from a winning backhand in the first game of the fourth set, Gaston pocketed his opponent’s service three games later to confirm his qualification.
