The Tennis Club de Boulogne wins the Pas-de-Calais derby against the Racing Club d'Arras (0-6) during the 4th day of men's Pro B. The Boulonnais thus take a serious option on the rise to Pro A next year. This Interclub derby attracted a lot of people given the field of players present.
A field worthy of certain ATP challenger tournaments. Judge instead: Hugo Gaston, Benoît Paire, Terence Atmane. But also promising French players like Sean Cuenin, Maxime Chazal or Titouan Droguet. Without forgetting former renowned foreign players like the Austrian Gérald Melzeror land Belgian Xavier Malisse. Tennis fans were not mistaken and came in large numbers to the beautiful facilities of RC Arras in Sainte-Catherine. This Pas-de-Calais derby between Arras and Boulogne/Mer was indeed the highlight of this penultimate day of Pro B (pool B). A decisive match in view of the climb.
This tennis derby between Arras and Boulogne began immediately with the shock of the team match. The whimsical Benoît Paire (n°45), for Arras, faced Boulonnais Terence Atmane (No. 15). Two players with a hot temperament, capable of breaking the pin at any time. This is what happened on the court. Atmane received a warning after swinging his racket. Paire repeatedly questioned the chair judge for decisions that did not suit him. The Avignon player also lost his temper at the end of the match. When he asked for a bottle of water, and they brought him… a 5 liter bottle, impossible to drink! It's not easy to referee in this kind of match…
An intense duel between Paire and Atmane
But first, the two players, friends off the court, delivered a quality match, with intensity and some nice exchanges. Proof that there was something at stake and that they both took these Interclubs seriously.
Benoît Pairerecruited this season by the RCA, won the first set 7-5, after twice taking the service of Terence Atmane. He also dominates the start of the next set. But the Boulonnais didn't give up, coming back to win 6-4 in this 2nd round. The two friends will therefore decide between themselves in the super tie-break.
Pushed by the Arrage public in a Davis Cup atmosphere, Paire quickly broke away to lead 9-3. He thus has 6 match points to conclude. But Atmane will then achieve an incredible “comeback”. He saved these 6 match points, then scored the next two points to win this super tie-break 11-9, and the match at the same time (7-5, 4-6, 9-11).
Terence Atmane wins after going 8-0 in the super tie-break! » It's not easy to play against my friend Benoît who played very well and is coming back well, confides Terence after the match. It was a 50-50 match. I managed to seize the opportunities at the end. »
The Boulonnais take everything
This shock will immediately swing the meeting in favor of the TCB because Arras was counting on a success for Paire against the Boulogne armada, who could even afford to let Constant Lestienne (n°11) on the bench. But the Amiens man was there to support his friends.
Estonian Marc Lajal (n°33) will indeed win 6-4, 7-5 against the Arrageois Sean Cuenin (No. 100). Unsurprisingly, Hugo Gaston (n°7) flies over his match against Maxime Chazal (n°30) 6-3, 6-1. Only the experienced Gérald Melzer (n°72) seemed set to bring home a singles point for RC Arras. The Austrian ballad indeed Titouan Droguet (n°21) 6-2 in the first set. But he was injured in the next match and ended the match on one leg. Droguet won the 2nd set 1-6, then the super tie-break 3-10.
« They were very hooked singlesstates thus Hugo Gaston. We knew that the Arrageois would be our direct competitors. That's why we came here to win, with a strong team.«
Boulogne/Mer leads 4-0 after the singles. Doubles therefore count as butter. But TCB wants to win them both. Which he does easily thanks to his two pairs Gaston-Droguet et Mansouri/Gueymard-Wayenburg.
By winning 0-6 at its neighbor Arras, the club of the ambitious Franck Paque therefore takes a serious option on moving up to Pro A, before the last meeting in Grenoble on Saturday.
The results
RC Arras/TC Boulogne-sur-Mer: 0-6
4th day of Pro B Men. RC Arras Tennis in Sainte-Catherine.
Simple
- Maxime Chazal (RCA) / Hugo Gaston (TCB): 3-6, 1-6
- Benoît Paire (RCA) / Terence Atmane (TCB): 7-5, 4-6, 9-11
- Gérald Melzer (RCA) / Titouan Droguet (TCB): 6-2, 1-6, 3-10
- Sean Cuenin (RCA) / Marc Lajal (TCB): 4-6, 5-7
Doubles
- Chazal-Cuenin (RCA) / Gaston-Droguet (TCB): 4-6, 3-6
- Paire-Malisse (RCA) / Mansouri-Gueymard Wayenburg (TCB): 3-6, 4-6.
Also find video interviews with Hugo Gaston et Constant Lestienne on SPORTS-VIDEOS-NORD (Sports 59/62).
