Frenchman Richard Gasquet sounded a warning to Wimbledon champion Roger Federer after retaining his Nottingham Open title with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Swede Jonas Bjorkman on Saturday.
The 20-year-old will provide triple champion Federer with a difficult start to his Wimbledon defence when they meet in the first round at the grasscourt Grand Slam on Monday and he is in confident mood.
"It's incredible to have won the title twice. Maybe I am the Federer of Nottingham," said Gasquet, who took a set off the Swiss at the Halle grasscourt event last week.
"He (Federer) could be nervous in the first round. In Halle I played well and I know how I need to play against him. I will play him with no pressure. Who knows, if I play like I did here today, but it's (going to be) really hard.
"I know what to do. You have to play on his backhand sometimes because he has a good serve and a wonderful forehand so I have to use my backhand against his backhand."
Gasquet has slipped to 66 in the rankings having reached number 12 last September but after securing his second ATP title he said: "I have had a lot of injuries since I won here last year.
"Now I am sure I can be in the top 15 in the world again."
© 2024 Rediff.com -