Rotterdam (ATP): Missed anniversary for Barrere

There are no more French people in Rotterdam! Our last representative, Grégoire Barrère was eliminated in the round of 16 by the defending champion, Felix Auger-Aliassime, on his 29th birthday. The 71st in the world, who is currently experiencing the best period of his career, lost 6-4, 6-3 in 1h23 against the n°8, despite a good resistance. Barrere notably took advantage of some of his opponent’s difficulties on serve (3 double faults, 50% of first serves) to worry him, even if that wasn’t enough. Felix Auger-Aliassime signed the first break of the game at 3-2 in the first set, on his second opportunity. Barrère managed to unbreak him to come back to 4-5, but in the process, the Frenchman lost his service once again, and therefore the set. In the second set, the two players each had a chance to break, but it was finally at the last moment, at 4-3, that “FAA” managed to take the opposing serve, then finish without shaking. Felix Auger-Aliassime will therefore play in the quarter-finals of this Dutch tournament which is dear to him, since it was there that he had won his very first victory, after eight defeats in the final. He will be opposed to Daniil Medvedev or Botic van de Zandschulp.

Barrere third best Frenchman

Grégoire Barrère, meanwhile, leaves Rotterdam with the feeling of accomplishment. Coming from qualifying and winner of David Goffin in the first round, he is sure to get the best ranking of his career on Monday, around 58th place. He will be the third best Frenchman, behind Richard Gasquet and Constant Lestienne (unless Adrian Mannarino goes far in Delray Beach). A great comeback for the Ile-de-France, who was still 247th in the world last May. But Barrère has had a good start to 2023, with a round of 16 in Auckland, a victory at the Quimper Challenger, a quarter-final in Montpellier, and therefore an eighth in Rotterdam. We will find him next week in Marseille.