3 Oct 2012

Gasquet wins Thailand Open

6:14 am on 3 October 2012

Richard Gasquet ended a tennis title drought stretching back two and a half years as he beat close friend Gilles Simon 6-2 6-1 in an all-French final at the Thailand Open.

The 67-minute victory came partly because Simon fell victim to a knee problem, a day after playing what he called some of his best tennis to reach the final.

He cut a hugely despondent figure afterwards.

Gasquet, 26, last tasted title success on clay in Nice in May 2010, and had lost three finals since then, including Estoril and Toronto this season.

Gasquet, seeded second in Bangkok, said he knew nothing of Simon's condition until his opponent took treatment trailing a set and 4-1 down.

Simon, the fourth seed, said that he was not sure if he would be fit for Tokyo, which starts straight away.